Today is a big day in Germany as Tesla launches its first European production hub in Berlin. Clients will see the first Model Y electric vehicles (EVs) roll off the line from the €5 billion (£4.2 billion/$5.5 billion) Gruenheide facility.
The factory, which is claimed to be the company’s most advanced, sustainable and efficient facility yet, will be opened by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who flew into the area yesterday in preparation for the event, along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Telsa’s new Berlin Gigafactory is the first of its kind in Europe and joins the company’s other Gigafactory facilities, three of which are based in the USA and one in China.
This is a milestone for the US electric carmaker, not only being located in Europe but the fact it’s in Germany, home to several large automakers who have a long tradition in producing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
At full capacity, the new Berlin Gigafactory is expected to produce 500,000 cars annually. The factory not only builds cars but also features its own battery facility. The two combined are expected to provide up to 12,000 jobs when the facilities are at full capacity.
Attendees of the opening event today will get a tour around the state of the art Berlin facility to see how the new European Tesla is made.
