Tesla Berlin starts production - Critics speak of "Giga-greenwashing"

The U.S. electric car manufacturer Tesla has given the green light for the delivery of the first vehicles of the Model Y type produced in the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The fourth Tesla Gigafactory overall is also the company's first production site in Europe and is said to be the most advanced, sustainable, and efficient to date, according to the company. A total of 30 cars were personally handed over to the first German customers at the start of the deliveries. The Model Y Performance with a range of up to 514 kilometers is thus celebrating its premiere in Germany and Europe.

Requirements Met in Record Time

Recently, the extremely ambitious schedule of the Californians had stumbled due to a court decision that imposed the fulfillment of numerous requirements within two weeks. This has now apparently been achieved. Above all, the water supply for the plant in an area with water scarcity and a drinking water protection zone triggered numerous debates in advance and will continue to accompany the operation, especially since an additional battery production facility is planned at the site. During the presentation in the presence of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD, "Germany can be fast") and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck (Greens, "strong symbol") and Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD, "tough tasks, but we rocked it"), who gave short, laudatory speeches, protests took place outside the gates. Media outlets like ZDF, whose Frontal21 magazine had reported critically on the environmental impact of the project, were not even admitted to the event. Opponents accused Musk and Tesla of "Giga-Greenwashing" on posters. Musk refuted this, calling for "hope in the future" and promised:

"Every car we produce here is a step towards a sustainable economy".

Fifth Major Production Facility Worldwide

The Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg is the fifth major Tesla production site worldwide, alongside the production site in Fremont, California, and the Gigafactories in Reno, Nevada; Buffalo, New York; and Shanghai, China. After the announcement in November 2019, the construction phase already began in spring 2020. Just about two years later, the factory has now been officially approved and has started producing Tesla's fully electric compact SUV Model Y. The Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg will produce cars for all European Tesla markets.