Tesla to Double German Electric Vehicle Factory Size... Annual Production to Reach 1 Million Units

Tesla is doubling the size of its electric vehicle production facility in Germany, its European manufacturing base.

On the 18th (local time), according to major foreign media, Tesla submitted an application to the Brandenburg State Ministry of the Environment to expand the site usage, doubling the production capacity of the Gigafactory located in Gr?nheide, on the outskirts of Berlin.

Tesla plans to increase the plant's production capacity from the current maximum of 500,000 vehicles per year to 1 million in the future. Battery production will also be increased by an additional 50 gigawatt-hours (GWh).

If this plan is approved, the Gr?nheide plant will become the largest electric vehicle factory in Germany. Currently, the largest electric vehicle factory in Germany is Volkswagen's Wolfsburg plant, which produces 800,000 vehicles annually.

Tesla is chasing Volkswagen, which currently holds the number one market share in the European electric vehicle market. In the first quarter of this year, Tesla's Model Y was the best-selling electric vehicle in Europe.

However, there are many hurdles to overcome as local residents in the surrounding area oppose the expansion of the Tesla factory, citing water shortage issues. Previously, after announcing the plan to build its first factory in Germany in November 2019, Tesla faced delays in permits due to opposition from environmental groups and completed the factory in March last year, about two years later. Residents can file objections with the authorities regarding the Tesla factory expansion until mid-September.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.