Elektroautos: Tesla schiebt Werksausbau an - Eine Million Autos als Ziel

Tesla, the US electric vehicle manufacturer, is accelerating its expansion plans in its German factory in Grünheide. An additional production hall is being built, with a second permission for the expansion expected by the end of the year, according to a spokeswoman for Deutsche Presse-Agentur. The company is reportedly preparing internally for this.

The size of the new hall remains unclear, with earlier reports from the RBB and the "Märkische Oderzeitung" stating that Tesla planned to double its annual production of up to 500,000 cars to a million cars. The storage capacity for battery cell production is also set to increase significantly, from the previously planned 100 gigawatt-hours per year to potentially even higher.

This expansion will not require additional deforestation. Tesla has increased its workforce by 3500 employees during a decline in orders, but these plans were initially put on hold and dependent on a better market situation. However, demand is now rising again, and Tesla is hiring workers against the trend. The Berlin factory, which opened in March 2022, currently employs 12,600 people, up from below 11,000.

The company aims to increase production in two stages to 7,500 vehicles per week, equivalent to around 375,000 vehicles per year. This will require hiring an additional 2000 employees. Over 1500 new positions are also planned for the expansion of battery cell production at Grünheide. Some 2000 employees were already hired in recent months, said a spokeswoman.

Permission for the expansion was granted by the Brandenburg state environment authority two years ago for the first step of upgrading existing buildings and facilities. For the second stage, the company plans to build the new factory hall and logistic areas, and in a third stage, to bring in machines. Environmentalists and residents have concerns about the factory and its expansion due to its location in a water protection area.