Tesla is targeting mid-2027 for full battery cell production at Giga Berlin. The plant now makes electrodes and ships them to Texas for cell manufacturing. Berlin also builds 7,500 Model Y vehicles per week, while a second factory remains undecided.
Tesla is targeting mid-2027 for full battery cell production at Giga Berlin, which would remove a transatlantic step from its manufacturing process.
Plant director André Thierig said at the November 11 Automobilwoche Kongress that Berlin already produces electrodes, but sends them to Texas for cell manufacturing before receiving completed cells back. The new timeline covers bringing that remaining work to Germany.
Battery expansion builds on a May investment
In May, Tesla outlined a $250 million investment in Berlin battery production, with planned annual capacity of 18 GWh and more than 1,500 additional jobs. At the time, that capacity was described as enough for roughly 225,000 to 300,000 Model Y vehicles annually. Those figures describe the planned battery operation, not an output level already achieved.
The investment is aimed at Tesla's 4680 battery programme, named for the cylindrical cell's dimensions of 46 millimetres in diameter and 80 millimetres in height. However, making a cell differs from assembling cells into a vehicle's battery pack, so expanding cell production is a separate milestone from building more cars.
Model Y output climbs while a second factory stays open
Meanwhile, vehicle production keeps rising. Thierig put current output at 7,500 Model Y vehicles per week. That follows Tesla Manufacturing's 7,000-vehicle weekly milestone announced on October 23.
A second factory remains undecided, including its product. Thierig said it would not simply be another Model Y factory if built, and Tesla plans a building application this year.
The second production hall proposed in October would cover around 536,000 square metres, compared with roughly 219,000 for the existing hall. That proposal envisioned construction starting no earlier than 2027, and it does not mean the additional factory or a new model has been approved.
Source: TeslaNorth.com
Trading involves risk.
Risk Disclaimer
