Tesla gives rare insights into the huge Berlin factory

E-Auto-Pionier Elon Musk I built a huge factory in front of the gates of Berlin in just under two years. On Saturday, interested persons were allowed in for the first time. Because not all neighbors are excited.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk wants at the latest in December In Germany, the first electric cars for Europe to produce. The company’s president made the announcement Saturday at an open day at his first European plant in Grunheide, near Berlin.

500,000 e-cars per year

It will take until the end of next year to ramp up production. Then it should be under construction too battery factory Get ready to work next to the car factory, Musk said.

Musk announced the Giga plant at the end of 2019 and built it in less than two years. There should be around in the future 12000 employees Even 500,000 electric cars per year Builds. According to the company, as many parts as possible should be produced on site in order to become independent of suppliers.

So far, Musk has only received early approvals to build the plant. Latest environmental law Approval of the entire project They are still pending, and several hundred objections are still under discussion.

Continuing criticism of the giga factory

Critics complain that the industrial building is partly located in District A water protection area Arises. However, both opponents and supporters of the project expect approval to be given in the next few weeks.

Musk defended his project against fears that production was too much Water branch out from the region. “Our factory uses very little water,” he said, adding that Tesla’s mission is to move as quickly as possible Renewable energy and climate protection.

At the same time he was courting qualified personnel from all of Europe. “I’m a little worried that we won’t be able to hire enough people,” Musk said.

Insights into the open house

About the open house called “County Fair“The authorities allowed up to 9,000 people at the same time. In front of the car factory, when the weather was fine, hundreds of people wandered into a kind of fairground with a ferris wheel and sausage stalls.

Visitors who obtained advance tickets were able to visit the factory as well as in Test Drive a Tesla Model Yto be produced in Grünheide. Already running in factory Robot On production lines under test run. Above all, Tesla emphasizes its own importance die casting plant A state-of-the-art paint shop.

Billion dollar project

The police reported slow traffic on the access roads, but no major problems. Tesla asked visitors to come by train. One of the most important factories is the car factory at the gates of Berlin industrial projects in East Germany.

Musk originally estimated construction costs 1.1 billion eurosBut in the meantime, he said, the budget will be exceeded. For the battery maker, Tesla has the potential for public funding, according to media reports 1.1 billion euros could be.

According to the company, “a single-digit average amount of $1 billion” will be invested. On Saturday, she said the predictions of around 4-5 billion euros were not wrong.

There was no more detailed information. On the construction site, even 3500 people He was busy. In addition, production personnel have already been appointed.