Newshot Tesla Berlin factory expansion will produce new models, no second Model Y factory
IT之家 November 12 news, Tesla's German Berlin Gigafactory (Giga Berlin) future expansion plans may bring new changes, and will not simply increase Model Y production capacity.
According to Automobilwoche, at the Automobilwoche automotive industry conference held in Berlin, factory head André Thierig said that if Tesla decides to build another factory at the existing site, "we will not build another Model Y factory."
However, Thierig did not disclose what models the new factory will produce. Currently, Tesla has not made a final decision on building a second factory or launching new products.
Many Tesla fans have been hoping the company would launch a lower-priced, more compact model for the European market. However, according to reports, Tesla shelved the Model 2 project as early as early 2024 and shifted its strategic focus to the Robotaxi driverless taxi. As an alternative, Tesla launched the lower-priced Model 3 and Model Y Standard versions.
At present, the possibility that Model 2 or Model Q is still under secret development cannot be completely ruled out, but the more likely candidate is the Cybercab.
IT之家 notes that 马斯克 said earlier this year that the Cybercab is the most likely next major product to be put into production at the Berlin factory, with the Optimus humanoid robot possibly following. Recently, he also said he hopes the Cybercab can enter the European market as soon as possible.
Currently, Tesla is touring multiple European cities to showcase the Cybercab, including four stops in Germany, among them Berlin.
Tesla has completed land clearing for the expansion area and plans to submit a building permit application in 2026. This is part of the overall expansion plan for the Berlin Gigafactory, and Tesla ultimately hopes to increase the factory's annual production capacity to 1 million vehicles.
Thierig said in an interview: "We may be the only company in Germany that is still continuously expanding."
Tesla has just hired 2,000 new employees at its Grünheide factory in Germany and is gradually increasing Model Y weekly production to 7,500 vehicles. Currently, the factory operates 15 shifts per week, with a vehicle rolling off the line every 45 seconds.
This production scale will bring the factory closer to its maximum annual capacity of 375,000 vehicles.
Earlier this year, Tesla announced an increase in production at the Berlin factory and plans to add 1,000 employees. Subsequently, the company announced plans to raise weekly production to 7,500 vehicles and hire another 1,000 people. This year, the Berlin factory also reached the milestone of its 750,000th vehicle rolling off the line.
Battery cell production is also about to begin at the Berlin factory. Currently, the factory is already able to produce electrode materials, which are shipped to Texas to be processed into battery cells and then shipped back to Germany.
According to the plan, the Grünheide factory will start full battery cell production in mid-2027. This will make it the first factory in Europe capable of completing the entire process from battery cell manufacturing to complete vehicle production at the same site.
In addition, Thierig also said that Tesla will not compromise on the 38-hour workweek issue, and called reducing working hours to 35 hours the company's "red line."
Currently, Tesla still has not confirmed what products the second Berlin factory will produce. With the building permit application planned to be submitted before the end of this year, the relevant plans are expected to become clearer soon.
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