Tesla Berlin Gigafactory: Production Start & Festival Announcement

Tesla Begins Production at Berlin Gigafactory with Celebratory Event

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, hosted a large-scale event at the newly established Berlin gigafactory on Saturday.

The celebration featured vibrant lighting, techno music, and attractions such as a Ferris wheel, carousel, and arcade games.

Vegetarian food trucks were also present as Tesla announced the commencement of production at the location, which has been subject to legal challenges from environmental organizations.

Production Timeline and Goals

According to Musk, the objective is to initiate production within the coming months, specifically targeting November or December.

He expressed hope that the first vehicles would be delivered by December, acknowledging the greater challenge of scaling up to high-volume production.

The initial focus will be on the Model Y vehicle.

Volume Production Targets and Battery Cell Manufacturing

Musk stated that volume production is defined as 5,000 vehicles per week, with an aspiration to reach 10,000 vehicles weekly.

Beyond vehicle assembly, the factory is slated to produce millions of battery cells.

Tesla has submitted plans for a substantial investment of approximately $5.8 billion in a neighboring battery plant.

This plant is projected to have a capacity of 50 GWh, with Musk anticipating volume production of battery cells before the year's end.

For comparison, Volkswagen’s planned facility in Salzgitter is expected to yield 40 GWh.

Addressing Environmental Concerns

Musk addressed criticisms regarding the factory’s environmental impact, asserting that it utilizes a “relatively little” amount of water.

He further emphasized that the battery production processes will be conducted in a “sustainable” manner.