Tesla’s $5.5 billion German gigafactory, which is located on the outskirts of Berlin in Grunheide, opened for business and began exporting electric vehicles on Tuesday.
According to Reuters, the first 30 Model Y Performance variant vehicles from the factory will be delivered to customers on Tuesday. The ceremonial inaugural event for the new production plant, which is estimated to generate 12,000 new jobs in the area, will be attended by both Elon Musk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Tesla has filled 3,000 of those positions so far.
Tweeting on Monday, Musk said he was “excited to deliver the first production cars made by Giga Berlin-Brandenburg tomorrow.”
I’m excited to deliver the first production cars made by Giga Berlin-Brandenburg tomorrow!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 21, 2022
The new gigafactory may be a boon for the local economy, but it will certainly worry German automakers like Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz. At Grunheide, Tesla plans to build 500,000 EVs a year, while Volkswagen only sold 450,000 EVs worldwide last year. Tesla manufacturing will ramp up gradually, with 500,000 units not projected until 2025.
Musk wanted to start building vehicles at the new gigafactory in November last year, but Tesla needed approval from German authorities to do so. However, after multiple requests related to compliance with environmental restrictions, that license was not granted until March 4 of this year.
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Categories: Technology
Source: vtt.edu.vn