Tesla has announced new plans to expand the plant in Grünheide by 100 hectares at an event at the weekend. A train station as well as logistics and storage areas are to be built there in order to keep significantly more parts in stock on site than before.
Tesla had already initiated the expansion process itself in May 2022. At that time, an application was submitted to initiate a development plan process for the 100 hectares. The new logistics areas are apparently intended not only to expand the infrastructure on site, but also to simplify it. Twelve pairs of trains per day will transport finished cars and deliver components. A training centre and a kindergarten are also planned.
Tesla also announced that from spring 2023 a new shuttle train would run from Erkner directly to the factory site – up to 40 times a day, with 400 passengers per train. The rail line financed by Tesla (550 metres of new track) is intended to relieve the existing local train network. The company also informed about plans to save water; aiming to use a so-called process water, a closed cycle is to be achieved.
Tesla states that in times of global supply chain problems and also because of the Ukraine war, the classic just-in-time logistics of the car industry is no longer possible. Therefore, additional logistics and storage space is needed. But: The expansion with its own freight station was already planned before the invasion of the Russian troops in Ukraine. However, Tesla now seems to assume that the supply chains will remain volatile.
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In order for Tesla to be able to implement the plans that have now been made public, an amendment to the development plan is necessary. According to a report, the Grünheide municipal council will decide on this on 29 September, i.e. in about two and a half weeks. A first vote, planned after the application in May, was cancelled at that time. Teslamag, on the other hand, reports that Grünheide’s mayor Arne Christiani, who was also present at the information event in Hangelsberg on Sunday, does not expect a vote in September.
It is not yet clear exactly when Tesla will start producing batteries in Grünheide. But it is supposed to start “soon”, at the moment the interior work is still going on. With regard to vehicle production, there should also be an official announcement shortly that the 2,000 Model Y per week mark will be exceeded. As reported, Tesla plans to introduce a third shift in Grünheide before the end of the year.
tagesspiegel.de, teslamag.de (both in German)
Keyword: Tesla presents plans to further expand Grünheide Gigafactory