Tesla is planning to expand Berlin. A second factory would produce a different model.
The head of Gigafactory Berlin ruled out another factory for the Model Y. No decision has been made yet regarding construction or a new product, with Cybercab among the possibilities.
The second factory would produce a different product
Tesla is preparing to expand its facility in Grünheide near Berlin. The plant’s director, André Thierig, said at the Automobilwoche conference that if a second factory is built there, it will not focus on the Model Y again. However, the automaker has not yet made a final decision on its construction or the specific product.
According to the Not a Tesla App website, Tesla has already completed land clearing for the expansion and plans to submit a construction application this year. The long-term goal is to increase the capacity of the entire facility to one million vehicles per year.
Cybercab is among the possible new products. Elon Musk called it the most likely next major product for the Berlin plant this year, also mentioning the potential future production of the humanoid robot Optimus.
The idea of a smaller and more affordable Tesla for Europe remains speculation. Thierig’s current statement provides no specific information about the vehicle referred to as Model 2 or Model Q.
Model Y boosts production pace
The current factory is increasing production toward 7,500 vehicles per week. According to a congressional report, Tesla has hired 2,000 new employees, operates on fifteen shifts per week, and a car rolls off the assembly line every 45 seconds.
Tesla states in its third-quarter results that the Berlin plant has an annual capacity of over 375,000 vehicles. This refers to production capacity; the actual number of completed cars also depends on component deliveries, downtime, and plant utilization.
Another change is set to be the start of battery cell production in mid-2027. Electrodes are already being manufactured in Grünheide. These are now sent to Texas for processing into cells, which then return to Europe.
Actual cell production would reduce this transfer between continents and concentrate both cell and finished car production in one location. Tesla still lists its Berlin 4680 cell project as under construction in its latest quarterly report.
Sources:
original text / Elektrickevozy.cz
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