Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg

Coordinates: 52°23′44″N 13°47′27″E / 52.39564632885965°N 13.790945949421596°E / 52.39564632885965; 13.790945949421596
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg
Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide, on the edge of a highway with an industrial park in the distance
Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in July 2023
Map
Built2019–2021
OperatedMarch 2022 (2022-03)
LocationGrünheide (Mark), Germany
Coordinates52°23′44″N 13°47′27″E / 52.39564632885965°N 13.790945949421596°E / 52.39564632885965; 13.790945949421596
IndustryAutomotive
ProductsTesla Model Y
Employees11,500
Area3 km2 (1.2 sq mi; 740 acres)
AddressTesla Straße 1
Owner(s)Tesla, Inc.
Websitetesla.com/giga-berlin

Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg (also known as Giga Berlin or Gigafactory 4)[1] is a manufacturing plant for Tesla, Inc. in the municipality of Grünheide (Mark) in the Brandenburg state of Germany.[2][3][4][5] The campus is located 35 kilometres (20 mi) south-east of central Berlin and some 8 kilometres (5 mi) southeast of the Berlin state boundary at Erkner and Rahnsdorf. Proximity to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (about 20 km or 12 mi west) was explicitly cited as a factor in choosing the site. It is Tesla's first manufacturing location in Europe.[6]

The facility and its Brandenburg location were announced by Tesla CEO Elon Musk on November 12, 2019, at the Das Goldene Lenkrad award show. The factory is planned to produce batteries, battery packs and powertrains for use in Tesla vehicles, and also assemble the Tesla Model Y, with a proposed start of production in 2021.[7][3] Construction work had already begun by early 2020 with site preparation and foundation work underway.[8] According to a January 2020 publication by the local environmental agency, the factory was expected to begin operations in July 2021.[9] It was delayed due to administrative troubles. However, the "Giga Fest" celebration of completion was held in October 2021.[10] On 22 March 2022, the factory was officially opened.[11][12]

History[edit]

Freienbrink industrial estate and construction site in April 2020

Planning and locating (2015–2018)[edit]

Initial discussion of a Tesla gigafactory in Europe occurred as early as 2015.[13] The factory was then thought to be a combined electric battery manufacturing facility and automobile factory.[14][15] In 2016, Tesla was anticipating to announce the factory in 2017.[16][17]

The factory had earlier been occasionally referred to as "Gigafactory 2" prior to 22 February 2017, when Tesla began to refer to the SolarCity Gigafactory in Buffalo, New York as Gigafactory 2. By 2017, the Europe Gigafactory was expected to be named either Gigafactory 4 or 5.[18][19] In November 2019, it became Gigafactory 4[20] and then Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg.

More than ten European countries had campaigned to have the factory located within their jurisdictions.[21][22]

  • In April 2016, a French minister suggested turning the soon to be shuttered Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant into Gigafactory 2,[23][24][25] supported by two ministers.[26][27]
  • The Dutch minister of economic affairs, Henk Kamp, announced plans to attract Tesla later in 2016,[28] and campaigned for the plant at several locations.[29] They promoted the idea of synergy with the European headquarters of Tesla, already located in the Netherlands, which is a finishing plant.[30]
  • The Czech Republic near Prague was reported as a possibility in 2016. A nearby 330,000 tonnes (360,000 tons) lithium deposit was thought a relevant factor, at the time.[31]
  • Germany's then-federal minister for economic affairs and energy, Sigmar Gabriel, stated that Tesla was in talks with the government during 2015 over a Gigafactory there.[13] Authorities, companies and over 100,000 citizens in the Lower Lusatia region (100 km (62 mi) southeast of Berlin, near the Germany–Poland border) urged Tesla to consider siting a factory in the region, close to the Czech lithium. They suggested the EuroSpeedway Lausitz for drive tests, along with Dekra.[32]
  • Portugal pursued the plant in 2016 with an internet campaign and governmental negotiations.[33][34] Portugal has the largest lithium reserves in Europe.[35]
  • Paterna, Spain[36] was also in pursuit of being selected by late 2016.[37][22]
  • Finland's city of Vaasa announced a government supported initiative to attract the factory in 2016, citing both nearby lithium carbonate deposits, a large refinery for cobalt and an annual 50,000-tonne nickel production.[38][39][40]
  • Lithuania drew the attention of Tesla[41][non-primary source needed] in January 2017 when the local gaming community united to recreate the potential Gigafactory in the virtual world of Minecraft.[42]
  • The Estonian government was also pursuing Tesla to be selected, claiming a good geographical and logistical location, plus 140 MW renewable energy with total control over the pricing for the factory in PAKRI Smart Industrial City at Pakri Peninsula.[43][44]

There was intense competition among European countries to host the Gigafactory because of its expected significant contribution to the economy. The sprawling facility, which is expected to be one of the largest manufacturing lines in Europe, will need a considerable number of employees despite many highly automated processes. There is also a concerted effort in the region to encourage battery manufacturing since it is viewed as a strategic economic measure due to an increasing global transition towards renewable energy.[45] A 2018 report revealed, for instance, that the world will need at least 25 more gigafactories by 2025.[46] The projected uptick in demand for electric cars and in-home power storage systems is causing concern about a European fuel dependency on Asia, which, as of early 2018, accounted for 88 per cent of global battery manufacturing capacity.[47] By 2018, European governments were providing subsidies and incentives to companies like Tesla as well as local battery manufacturing startups like Northvolt and TerraE to build production infrastructure within its borders.[48] According to Matthias Machnig, state secretary at the German economy ministry:

We are in the center of the biggest and deepest change in the automotive industry since its beginning. We would be naïve to think we can handle battery technology as a commodity that can be bought anywhere in the world.[47]

Construction and opening (2019–2021)[edit]

Grünheide, Tesla construction site in the background

On 12 November 2019, the selection of the Brandenburg location for the Gigafactory 4 facility was officially announced by Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the Das Goldene Lenkrad award show, held in Berlin. Giga Berlin is expected to produce batteries, battery packs and powertrains for use in Tesla vehicles. It will also do assembly of the Tesla Model Y, which had been previously announced for Gigafactory 4 in March 2019. Construction of the facility was then planned to begin in early 2020, with a proposed start of production in late 2021.[7][3] Musk also announced the establishment of a new design and development centre in nearby Berlin.[49]

By February 2020, environmental challenges had been cleared in court decisions which allowed vegetation on the site to begin being cleared.[50]

Construction work had begun by May 2020 with initial foundation work underway, the set up of the first four construction cranes, and the beginning of the arrival of trainloads of building materials including pillars and beams.[8] Musk has stated the construction will come together at an "impossible-seeming speed" due to the use of prefabricated construction techniques.[51]

On 9 October 2021, Tesla held the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg County Fair where they invited 9000 local guests to tour the factory.[52]

Approval and production (2022–)[edit]

In March 2022, the government of Brandenburg granted Giga Berlin-Brandenburg its final environmental approval.[53] However, the approval did not give Tesla the capacity to immediately start.[54] On 22 March 2022, Giga Berlin was officially opened. Several protesters gathered outside the facility to raise their concerns.[11][12] By 29 April, the factory started to produce Model Y Performance with 2170-cells.[55] Later in December it was reported that the company faced issues with filling positions, working conditions, retaining trained employees, and a high level of absenteeism at the factory.[56][57]

The ramp-up of Gigafactory Berlin has been meticulously tracked and made easily known through Tesla Inc. publicly announcing the factory's achievements once accomplished: On June 17, 2022, Gigafactory Berlin reportedly reached a run rate of 1,000 units per week,[58] and by March 25, 2023, Gigafactory Berlin hit a 5,000 units per week.[59]

Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg description[edit]

Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg will manufacture batteries, battery packs, powertrains and seats with work including casting, stamping, painting, drivetrain assembly and final assembly of Model Y and future models with an annual capacity eventually reaching 500,000 cars.[9][60] Initial production will be of the Tesla Model Y.[61][3] The expected cost for the factory is around €4 billion.[62]

Site and landscape[edit]

The campus is 35 kilometres (20 mi) south-east of central Berlin on the Berlin–Wrocław railway, which forms the north border of the site between Erkner station and Fangschleuse railway station; and the A10 motorway, which forms the west border.[63][64]

Extending north from the 1-square-kilometre (0.4 sq mi) "GVZ Freienbrink" logistics centre,[65][66][67] the area was an undeveloped 3-square-kilometre (1.2 sq mi) greenfield land site designated industrial zone.[68] It was planned as a location for a BMW car factory around the year 2000, but BMW chose Saxony instead.[69] Much larger pine meadows in a landscape-scale conservation[70] surround Freienbrink and a state-owned man-made forest of low-quality monoculture harvest-ready planted pine[71][72] trees occupied the site, and authorities expected Tesla to mitigate felling by planting new trees of more diverse variety.[73][74][75] 160 hectares of vegetation was cleared for the factory, and by 2022, 265 hectares of new multiple-species forest had been planted elsewhere. The pines are planned to be reforested with additional species.[76]

Old ordnance complicated site clearing,[77][78] and seven bombs (85 kg total) were detonated in a controlled explosion in January 2020.[79] The site also interrupts the route of the Old Postal Road (Grünheide Alte Poststraße).[80] The environmental report indicated that the ground is valley sand, and contains some pollution with heavy metals.[81]

Purchase contract on the land was expected to be completed in December 2019.[82] In December 2019, Tesla clarified an expected European Gigafactory production rate of approximately 500,000 vehicles per year.[83][84] Tesla was to pay €13.50 per square metre for the 300-hectare (740-acre) site, to the sum of ~€41 million.[85] In January 2020 German media reported that Tesla had approved the contract to buy the land for €41 million;[86][87] Tesla signed the contract and the state notarized the contract on 29 January 2020.[88]

Logistics[edit]

The current water supply (from Strausberg-Erkner) is sufficient for the first phase of a quarter million cars, but the second (to half a million cars) and third (to 3–4 million cars) phases need further water supply.[74] Water purification is to be supplied by distillation and reverse osmosis.[89] Additional facilities will include a waste water treatment plant with a capacity of 252 cubic metres per hour (8,900 cu ft/h), a central supply building, an area for in- and outgoing deliveries (rail and truck) as well as employee parking lots.[9][90] Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn began operating a free 400-seat Bombardier Talent diesel shuttle train between Fangschleuse station and the factory in September 2023.[91]

Some of the reasons for choosing Brandenburg were that the industrial site is expandable, the state has the highest production of green power per citizen in Germany, and there are qualified workers in the area.[92] Suppliers also set up facilities in the area.[93]

Location concerns[edit]

The project is subject to a number of concerns, including potential impacts to the water supply and local wildlife, and about proper wastewater disposal.[94] In the public hearing in Stadthalle Erkner protesters were concerned that the chemicals in the factory pose a violation of the AwSV §49, which means that the plans for the factory must be stopped.[95] Among the forest residents are reptiles, ants and birds which must be relocated before felling. There may be an endangered species of bat;[96] the district forester who planted trees says the bats prefer trees older than 80 years to roost in them.[71]

A group of neighbouring municipalities formed in December 2019 to handle issues like traffic, infrastructure and residential developments.[97]

Unexploded WWII-era bombs are commonly found in German ground, and 85 kg were disposed at the site in January 2020.[79][98][99]

On 9 April 2020, Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten (also known as The PNN) reported the soil in the foundation area is sandy, therefore requiring a different type of foundation than what was planned. According to the report, the changes are not simple. Tesla will need to update their application with the local government, probably requiring a public hearing.[100][101][needs update]

On 15 October 2020, Associated Press reported that the German utility company WSE was shutting off water to the construction site due to unpaid bills.[102] The bill was paid and the water was restored the next day.[103]

Incidents and emergencies[edit]

On 26 September 2022, a fire broke out at the factory after 800 m3 (1,050 cu yd) of cardboard and wood caught fire in the factory's recycling facility.[104] The fire brigades of the municipality of Grünheide were called at 3:33 a.m. by the Tesla plant fire brigade. 50 firefighters were dispatched, which fought the fire until close to 8:00 am.[105] No injuries were reported.[106] Criticisms came from groups opposing the factory construction, such as the citizens' initiatives and the Strausberg Erkner Water Board (WSE), which called for an immediate stop of Giga Berlin's vehicle production.[107][108][109]

At the end of September, the German weekly magazine Stern (magazine) started an investigative report series "Inside Tesla" that raised serious concerns against Tesla and Brandenburg politicians.[110] Accusations included a high number of serious violations of occupational health and safety and environmental regulations. The reports cited three times as many emergencies occurred at Grünheide as compared to the similarly-sized Audi factory in Ingolstadt.[111]

In March 2024, the plant was forced to halt production after an electricity substation was set alight in a suspected arson attack.[112] The incident was later claimed to have been caused by the "Volcano Group" a left-wing activist group operating in Germany.[113][114]

Labor relations[edit]

As of October 2023, according to Brandenburg's Minister of Health Ursula Nonnemacher, Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg employs 11,500 people.[115] The labor union IG Metall stated more than 1,000 employees have jointly demanded improved working conditions in a first-time campaign at the Grünheide factory and numerous Tesla employees have complained about poor working conditions. The workers criticized the workload as "extreme" due to short cycle times, a lack of personnel and excessive production targets. Employees also pointed to serious deficiencies in health protection, which led to sickness rates of up to around 30 percent and a high number of work accidents.[116] When the union put up stickers in 2023 that read, "Our health is more important than the next billion to Elon," Tesla warned of disciplinary action that included termination without notice.[116]

In mid-June 2023, the Business Insider reported that the Tesla factory in Grünheide had reduced special shifts in the second quarter. The number of regular work shifts in the factory were also reduced from three to two and a half. Insider sources alleged that hundreds of temporary positions in the factory faced lay-offs.[117]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (25 January 2020). "Going with nomenclature of Giga [most widely understood location name] vs Giga #, so Giga Shanghai, Giga Nevada, Giga New York & Giga Berlin" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 January 2020 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Sandra, Enkhardt (13 November 2019). "Tesla approves purchase contract for European Gigafactory, just outside of Berlin". pv-magazine-usa.com. PV Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Lambert, Fred (13 November 2019). "Tesla to focus on Model Y, batteries, and powertrains at Gigafactory 4 in Europe". Electrek. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Elon Musk will Tesla-Werk in Brandenburg bauen". Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten (in German). 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  5. ^ Kane, Mark (19 June 2020). "Tesla Giga Berlin Construction Progress: June 18, 2020". insideevs.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg". Tesla. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  7. ^ a b Morgan, Sam (13 November 2019). "Tesla chooses Berlin for European gigafactory". euractiv.com. euractiv. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  8. ^ a b Tesla Giga Berlin's building structure is about to begin construction Archived 29 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine, 26 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Errichtung und Betrieb einer Anlage für den Bau und die Montage von Elektrofahrzeugen mit einer Kapazität von jeweils 100.000 Stück oder mehr je Jahr am Standort 15537 Grünheide (Mark)" [Construction and Operation of a Facility for the Making and Assembly of Electric Vehicles with a Yearly Capacity of 100.000 Units or More at Location 15537 Grünheide (Mark)] (PDF) (in German). Potsdam: Landesamtes für Umwelt. 3 January 2020. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Tesla holds 'Giga Fest' at disputed German factory". 9 October 2021. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  11. ^ a b Meierhans, Jennifer (22 March 2022). "Elon Musk opens delayed 'gigafactory' in Berlin". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  12. ^ a b Shead, Sam (22 March 2022). "Elon Musk breaks out the dance moves as he opens new Tesla factory in Germany". CNBC. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  13. ^ a b Gordon-Bloomfield, Nikki (17 November 2015). "Tesla Motors in Discussion with German Government Over European Gigafactory, Says German Politician". transportevolved.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  14. ^ Gibbs, Samuel (8 November 2016). "Tesla announces new gigafactory in European expansion". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  15. ^ Elon Musk opens the Tesla Gigafactory. Tesla. 29 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ Fred Lambert (8 November 2016). "Tesla plans to choose location for 'Gigafactory 2' in Europe next year, will produce both batteries and cars". Electrek. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  17. ^ Beckwith, Jimi (9 November 2016). "Tesla to build European Gigafactory". Autocar. UK. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  18. ^ Tesla christens Buffalo solar factory 'Gigafactory 2', will finalize locations of Gigafactory 3, 4 and possibly 5 this year Archived 23 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Electrek, 22 February 2017
  19. ^ "Tesla Fourth Quarter & Full Year 2016 Update" (PDF). Tesla Inc. Palo Alto. 22 February 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  20. ^ "Elon Musk: Tesla is going to build Gigafactory 4 in Berlin area". Electrek. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  21. ^ "World's Nations Jockeying To Get Next Tesla Gigafactory (Videos)". CleanTechnica. 5 December 2016. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  22. ^ a b Dom Galeon (1 December 2016). "The World's Nations Are Fighting Over Tesla". Futurism.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  23. ^ Alyssa Newcomb (6 April 2016). "France Courts Tesla With Idea of Turning Old Nuclear Plant into a Factory". ABC News (USA). Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  24. ^ "Fessenheim: Royal suggère la mutation de la centrale en usine Tesla" [Fessenheim: Royal suggests mutation of factory plant Tesla] (in French). France: LCP National Assembly. 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  25. ^ Alsace is ready for Tesla. BlackBlitz. 8 March 2016. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ Marie Mawad and Helene Fouquet (6 January 2017). "France's Economy Minister Visits Tesla in Bid to Woo Musk". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  27. ^ Lambert, Fred (8 January 2017). "The race to get 'Tesla Gigafactory 2' heats up, French Minister visits Fremont factory". Electrek. Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  28. ^ "Minister Kamp: 'Nieuwe Tesla-fabriek moet in Nederland komen'" [Secretary Kamp: New Tesla-plant should come to the Netherlands]. Autovisie.nl (in Dutch). 29 November 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  29. ^ Campbell, Angela (12 January 2017). "Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA) Looks at Three New Dutch Suitors For Gigafactory 2". The Country Caller. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  30. ^ "Kabinet gaat zich sterk maken voor binnenhalen Tesla-fabriek" [Cabinet will make a case for getting the Tesla factory]. NU (in Dutch). Netherlands. 29 November 2016. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  31. ^ Webb, Russell Adam (17 November 2016). "New Tesla Gigafactory Looks at Prague, Czech Republic". spaceinvader.me. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2016. Some sources close to TSI have revealed that whilst nothing has been set in stone, there is a high chance of Tesla locating its new Gigafactory just north of Prague, Czech Republic.
  32. ^ "Tesla-Fabrik in Aussicht, Standort gesucht". wirtschaftsregion-lausitz.de. Archived from the original on 21 November 2019.
  33. ^ Carneiro, José (15 November 2016). "España y Portugal batallan por la futura "gigafactoría" de Tesla en Europa" [Spain and Portugal battle over Tesla's future European "Gigafactory"]. farodevigo.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  34. ^ "Tesla in talks over 'giga-factory' in Portugal". New Algarve Daily News. 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  35. ^ "Mineral Commidty Summaries 2017" (PDF). p. 105. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  36. ^ Hanley, Steve (30 May 2016). "'Spain Loves Tesla' campaign aims to lure Tesla Factory". teslarati.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  37. ^ Lambert, Fred (29 November 2016). "Tesla Gigafactory 2: several countries launch efforts to attract Tesla's new electric car & battery plant". electrek.co. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  38. ^ "Why one Finnish city thinks it's ideal for next Tesla Gigafactory". Green Car Reports. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  39. ^ "Vaasa has the vision and the ecosystem for a gigafactory, and much more". gigafactory.fi. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  40. ^ "Ministry: Vaasa competing for Tesla Gigafactory in Finland". Yle Uutiset. 26 January 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  41. ^ "Tesla on Twitter". Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017 – via Twitter.
  42. ^ Gigafactory LT (2 February 2017), Minecraft Tesla Gigafactory in Lithuania, archived from the original on 4 February 2017, retrieved 4 February 2017
  43. ^ "PAKRI Smart Industrial City". Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  44. ^ "Estonia Makes Bid For Next Tesla Gigafactory – "If Tesla were a country, it would probably be Estonia."". insideevs.com. 12 April 2017. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  45. ^ "Elon Musk's former employee is building a European rival to Tesla's gigafactory". Futurism. 15 February 2018. Archived from the original on 8 June 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  46. ^ "World will need 'at least' 10 more EV battery gigafactories by 2025". Autocar. 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  47. ^ a b "Europe powers up in battery contest with Asia". Politico. 12 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 June 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  48. ^ "Europe's plan to create its own Gigafactory might backfire". Handelsblatt Global Edition. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  49. ^ Metzner, Thorsten (13 November 2019). "Gigafactory von Tesla soll 10.000 Jobs bringen: Elon Musk plant neues Werk bei Berlin". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  50. ^ "German court says Tesla can clear trees to build car factory". The Guardian. 21 February 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  51. ^ @elonmusk (27 July 2020). "@cleantechnica Giga Berlin will come together at an impossible-seeming speed. The prefabricated construction method…" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 July 2021 – via Twitter.
  52. ^ Duffy, Kate. "Tesla has transformed its Berlin Gigafactory into a festival site with rave music, a Ferris wheel, and food stalls for 9,000 visitors". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  53. ^ Loveday, Steven (4 March 2022). "Tesla Is Now Officially Approved To Open Giga Berlin". InsideEVs. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  54. ^ "Tesla reportedly receives final environmental approval to start production at Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, but there's a catch - Electrek". Electrek.co. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  55. ^ Klingenberg, Mathias (29 April 2022). "Her er våre førsteinntrykk av tyske Model Y Performance". Tu.no (in Norwegian). Teknisk Ukeblad. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  56. ^ Jackson, James (5 December 2022). "Tesla's Berlin Hub Can't Hire Enough People, or Keep Them". WIRED. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  57. ^ Lambert, Fred (6 December 2022). "Tesla Gigafactory Berlin in 'total chaos,' says worker in report about labor issues". Electrek. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  58. ^ "https://twitter.com/Tesla/status/1537995967709884416". Twitter. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  59. ^ "https://twitter.com/Tesla/status/1639713037174161408". Twitter. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  60. ^ "Tesla schrumpft sein deutsches Autowerk". Bild. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  61. ^ Will build batteries, powertrains & vehicles, starting with Model Y Archived 13 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Elon Musk, 12 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  62. ^ Staudenmaier, Rebecca (17 November 2019). "Tesla factory outside Berlin to cost €4 billion". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019.
  63. ^ Spannagel, Lars (26 November 2019). "Wie Tesla Grünheide träumen läsurl=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/themen/reportage/wie-gross-kann-der-ort-werden-und-was-ist-mit-kitas-wie-tesla-gruenheide-traeumen-laesst/25233850.html". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. The property on which Tesla wants to build begins right next to the train station, around 300 hectares, logistically perfectly located between the motorway and the train route
  64. ^ Balser, Markus; Hägler, Max; Heidtmann, Jan; Kunkel, Christina (14 November 2019). "Tesla: Eine Gigafactory für Brandenburg". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. the railway line from Berlin to Frankfurt an der Oder crosses with the Berliner Ring. 30 people had negotiated for six months, "that is a huge number for Brandenburg". The decisive factor, however, was that "we are the leaders in the supply of renewable energies," said Woidke
  65. ^ "Grünheide (Mark) – GVZ Freienbrink". gruenheide-mark.de (in German). Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. 96+300 hectares
  66. ^ Moetsch, Matthias (11 December 2019). "Tesla zieht nach Grünheide: Wir sind die neuen Nachbarn von Elon Musk". Bild (in German). Archived from the original on 14 December 2019.
  67. ^ Lambert, Fred (12 December 2019). "Tesla Gigafactory 4 leaked plans reveal room for expansion". Electrek.[permanent dead link]
  68. ^ "Grünheide (Mark) – Tesla-Gigafactory in Grünheide (Mark) | Freienbrink". www.gruenheide-mark.de. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. built on a 300 hectare lot in the industrial park Freienbrink
  69. ^ "Bebauungsplan Nr. 13 "Freienbrink – Nord" Gemeinde Grünheide" (PDF). Freie Planungsgruppe Berlin GmbH. May 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2016. Size and type of use: 300 hectares industrial zone
  70. ^ "Müggelspree-Löcknitzer Wald- Und Seengebiet". Protected Planet. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  71. ^ a b Croyé, Melanie (11 January 2020). "Freienbrink: Alles weg für Tesla". Die Zeit (in German). Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. The forest has a history with many contaminated sites, there is an old anti-aircraft position of the Wehrmacht, heaps of bombs and ammunition remains. During GDR times, the National People's Army used the site as a storage space, huge halls stood here. That is why so many people are out and about in the forest these days: four explosives companies have sent their employees to comb through the huge forest. Only when all weapon remains have been removed can trees be felled. An old illegal dump must also be removed
  72. ^ Diehr, Annemarie (15 November 2019). "Tesla: Giga-Fabrik verdrängt Nadelbäume in Grünheide". MOZ.de (in German). Archived from the original on 22 January 2020.
  73. ^ Croyé, Melanie (13 November 2019). "Tesla in Grünheide: "Jetzt sind wir endlich dran"". Die Zeit (in German). Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. The place is already dominated by an industrial area, the GVZ Freienbrink. The Edeka regional central warehouse is located there, and several other companies, especially logistics companies, are already taking advantage of the practical location on the eastern Berliner Ring. worst quality forest
  74. ^ a b Thiessen, Ulrich (13 December 2019). "Wirtschaft: Land kauft mit Tesla-Erlös neuen Wald". lr-online.de (in German). Lausitzer Rundschau. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2019. The state forestry company is in negotiations to sell 300 hectares of forest in Grünheide to Tesla
  75. ^ Nicola, Stefan (17 January 2020). "Inside Tesla's Attack on Germany's Auto Establishment". Yahoo! Finance. Archived from the original on 18 January 2020. The forest is classified as a harvest-ready, inferior pine forest," Christiani said. "It was never supposed to be a rain forest.
  76. ^ "So steht es um Teslas Aufforstung". rbb24.de (in German). 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022.
  77. ^ "Brandenburgs Ministerpräsident Woidke hält Zeitplan für Tesla-Fabrik für ambitioniert – aber machbar". MAZ – Märkische Allgemeine (in German). Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  78. ^ "Vorbereitung für Tesla-Gigafactory in Brandenburg laufen". Teslamag.de (in German). 19 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  79. ^ a b "Weltkriegsbomben auf Tesla-Gelände gesprengt". Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (in German). 26 January 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  80. ^ "Alte Poststraße Tesla Gigafactory 4". Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  81. ^ "UVP-Berichtfür das Vorhaben "Gigafactory Berlin"" [Environment assessment report for Gigafactory Berlin] (PDF) (in German). UVP-verbund. 13 November 2019. p. 59. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 January 2020. at the project site, deposits of the glacial valleys including their tributary valleys (lowland sand, "valley sand") predominate. These are fine- to coarse-grained, partly slightly gravelly to gravelly, sand. The geochemical overview map shows a low to medium load with heavy metals and partly high Exposure to lead, mercury and Iron-III. The project location is unsuitable or is not very suitable for agricultural use. The location is a flat depression area. The altitude lies at +38 to +40 m NHN Alt URL Archived 3 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  82. ^ Alvarez, Simon (5 December 2019). "Tesla Gigafactory 4 purchase contract could be completed by end of 2019". Teslarati. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020. Tesla may complete its purchase contract for the site of Gigafactory 4, … before the end of 2019 … optimistic about Tesla's factory, considering that the area had already been planned for a BMW facility back in 2001. "This is already the development plan for this type of industrial use," he said. … development plans for the site that were granted for BMW's potential facility would need to be re-examined, particularly as the flora and fauna in the area may have changed since 2001
  83. ^ Klender, Joey (11 December 2019). "Tesla's European Gigafactory will produce 500k vehicles per year: report". Teslarati. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019. according to a report from Bild … Initial production of the Model 3 and Model Y is expected to begin in 2021 with the help of 3,000 employees
  84. ^ "Der geheime Plan für das Werk in Brandenburg: Wie öko wird die Tesla-Fabrik?" [The secret plan for the Gigafactory in Brandenburg: How eco-friendly is the Tesla factory?]. Bild. 11 December 2019. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2020.(subscription required)
  85. ^ "Tesla zahlt rund 41 Millionen Euro für Gelände in Brandenburg" [Tesla to pay approximately 41 million Euro for site in Brandenburg]. Der Spiegel (in German). 8 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020. Der US-Elektroautohersteller Tesla erhält das 300-Hektar-Gelände für seine geplante Fabrik in Grünheide in Brandenburg für knapp 41 Millionen Euro. … rund 13,50 Euro pro Quadratmeter … der Haushaltsausschuss muss aber noch zustimmen
  86. ^ "Tesla stimmt Kaufvertrag für Grundstück in Grünheide zu". rbb24.de (in German).[permanent dead link]
  87. ^ Metzner, Thorsten. "Tesla-Fabrik kommt nach Grünheide" [Tesla-factory comes to Grünheide]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Archived from the original on 19 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  88. ^ "Gigafactory in Grünheide: Kaufvertrag für Tesla-Fabrik ist unterzeichnet". MOZ.de (in German). 29 January 2020. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  89. ^ Bachman, Danica (14 December 2019). "Tesla Gigafactory Will Have Autobahn Exit and a Train Station, Says Report". Business Times. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  90. ^ "Plans for Tesla Gigafactory 4, According to Sound Emission Prognosis". CleanTechnica. 6 January 2020. Archived from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  91. ^ Manthey, Nora (5 September 2023). "Tesla Giga Train launches but is a little off track". electrive.com/. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  92. ^ Kröger, Michael; Wassermann, Andreas (13 November 2019). "Neue Tesla-Fabrik in Brandenburg: Warum ausgerechnet Grünheide?". Der Spiegel. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Nationwide, no German state produces more green electricity per inhabitant than Brandenburg. Automotive expert Stefan Bratzel of the Bergisch-Gladbach University of Applied Sciences points to the large number of qualified workers available in the region
  93. ^ "Tesla führt zu Ansturm von internationalen Unternehmen". rbb24.de (in German). 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  94. ^ ""You're stealing our water": Germans protest against Tesla gigafactory". Reuters. 18 January 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  95. ^ Stadthalle Erkner: Protokoll der öffentlichen Anhörung in der Stadthalle Erkner, 13 September 2020 und folgende Tage, public access to this document is provided by Landesamt für Umwelt (Brandenburg) upon request
  96. ^ Meyer, Cornelia; Ankel, Sophia. "Elon Musk's new $4.4 billion Tesla Gigafactory near Berlin might endanger a species of bat, conservationists warn". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  97. ^ "Tesla: Team soll Fabrikbau begleiten". MOZ.de (in German). 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  98. ^ Higgins, William Boston and Tim (21 January 2020). "Tesla's Post-China Challenge: Bats and Bombs in Germany". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  99. ^ "Wieder mehr als 270 Tonnen Kampfmittel geräumt". t-online.de (in German). 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020. More than 70 years after the end of the Second World War, the Ordnance Disposal Service (KMBD) in Brandenburg cleared 276 tons of ordnance again this year
  100. ^ "Tesla-Fabrik trotz Verzögerung nicht in Gefahr". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  101. ^ Lambert, Fred (9 April 2020). "Tesla Berlin Gigafactory stalls, reportedly has to revise foundation due to soil issue". Electrek. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  102. ^ "German water utility pulls plug on Tesla over unpaid bills". news1130.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  103. ^ "German utility restores water supply to Tesla after stoppage". news1130.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  104. ^ "Firefighters extinguish flames on grounds of Tesla's Germany plant". Reuters. 26 September 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  105. ^ "Tesla Berlin Gigafactory Fire Prompts Production Halt Demands". InsideEVs. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  106. ^ Lambert, Fred (26 September 2022). "A fire broke out at Tesla Gigafactory Berlin; locals call for production stop". Electrek. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  107. ^ Alvarez, Simon (26 September 2022). "Tesla Giga Berlin critics demand production halt after cardboard fire". TESLARATI. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  108. ^ "As Fire Breaks Out at Tesla (TSLA) Gigafactory Locals are Calling for Production to Stop". StreetInsider.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  109. ^ "A Fire at Tesla Gigafactory Berlin Last Monday As An Excuse To Stop Production". Torque News. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  110. ^ "Inside Tesla" (in German). 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  111. ^ "Serious violations in Musk's Gigafactory: How can this be possible in Germany? (star+)" (in German). 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  112. ^ Gilchrist, Karen (5 March 2024). "Tesla's Berlin plant halts production after suspected arson attack at nearby substation". CNBC. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  113. ^ "Germany: Far-left group claims act of sabotage on Tesla". dw.com. 5 March 2024. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  114. ^ "Far-left group says it targeted Tesla in German arson attack". 5 March 2024. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  115. ^ "Mangelnde Aufsicht bei Tesla?: Brandenburgs Gesundheitsministerin weist Vorwürfe zurück". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). ISSN 1865-2263. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  116. ^ a b "Tesla-Mitarbeiter in Grünheide fordern bessere Arbeitsbedingungen" [Tesla employees in Grünheide are demanding better working conditions]. Tagesschau (in German). Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  117. ^ Philip Kaleta (16 June 2023). "Shifts cut, employees laid off: Tesla factory in Grünheide is apparently in crisis" (in German). Retrieved 13 October 2023.

External links[edit]