Tesla has submitted an application to double the production capacity of its Gigafactory in Germany, aiming to manufacture 1 million electric vehicles annually. The current capacity is 500,000 vehicles per year. The expansion plans also include increasing battery cell manufacturing capabilities at the same plant, raising battery storage capacity from 50 gigawatt-hours to 100 gigawatt-hours per year.
If approved, the Gigafactory in Grünheide, Germany, will become the country’s largest automotive plant, surpassing Volkswagen’s historic stronghold in Wolfsburg, which has a production capacity of 800,000 vehicles per year. The public consultation process has been initiated by the authorities of Brandenburg, where the Tesla factory is located, allowing citizens to comment on the proposed expansion.
Tesla’s German Gigafactory has already significantly impacted the country’s automotive industry since it began production 16 months ago. The company aims to optimize water usage and address environmental concerns as part of its expansion strategy. The Gigafactory currently employs over 10,000 workers, with plans to potentially increase the workforce to 22,500 employees in the near future.