Tesla to think about expanding production capacity

Production in Grünheide officially began in March. Currently, Tesla produces about 2,000 cars per week there - which is only about one-fifth of the production target. The 7,000 employees are to be increased to 12,000. With the planned expansion stage, this number should increase significantly. Activities are already underway at the site to expand capacity. 70 hectares of pine forest will be cleared for this. According to Tesla, permission for this has already been granted. For the expansion, however, a new environmental law procedure is necessary. Areas for a new warehouse and a goods station are already being built.

Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) naturally sees the expansion plans positively: "With the announcement of the next expansion stage of the car factory, Tesla is committing itself to Brandenburg as a location." Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (SPD) also sees this as a good sign. As the largest industrial employer in Brandenburg, Tesla has played a decisive role in the state's development into a major location for the modern automotive industry. Conservationists, on the other hand, are critical of the expansion plans - especially the necessary clearing. They also say that there will be repeated disruptions in the operation of the plant, which would pose a danger to people and the environment. In addition, it became known in September that Tesla has so far been producing in Grünheide without a functioning fire alarm system. According to Tesla, it is working on the implementation.

However, Tesla is putting the brakes on battery production: as the general conditions are currently more favourable in the USA, plans there are being prioritised. Most recently, problems with the dry coating of the electrodes - a new process without energy-intensive drying - had been argued. Accordingly, battery production in Grünheide is not expected to start before 2024.