Too slow: Only 1,000 instead of 10,000 Teslas leave the Grünheide car factory per week Photo: ppl cul
By Michael Sauerbier
A good three months after the opening, Tesla has to temporarily close its Brandenburg car plant.
Tesla plans to produce 500,000 Model Y electric cars in Grünheide each year. But so far, the giga factory on the outskirts of Berlin has only produced 1000 bodies a week – around a tenth of the plan. Drone images show: Many cars have to be reworked before delivery due to defects.
At the beginning of July, Tesla is to interrupt operations for two weeks, reports the specialist magazine “eslamag”. During the standstill, the production processes would be changed in such a way that the bodies only spend 30 seconds at each production station. It’s currently up to three minutes.
Tesla boss Elon Musk and Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the opening of the Tesla factory. Musk is currently vacationing in Venice. Meanwhile, the production figures
are declining
According to employees, after the break in production, work should be carried out in three instead of two shifts. In addition, Tesla could then start drive production in a neighboring hall.
So far, the engines have been supplied from China. The Shanghai plant was idle in the spring due to Corona. Result: Tesla sold 17 percent fewer Model 3 and Y in the second quarter than planned.
The biggest problem remains recruiting employees – like everywhere else. According to Brandenburg’s Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (66, SPD), Tesla hires 400 to 500 people per month. Too few: By the end of the year, the workforce has to grow from around 4,500 to 9,000 jobs. Batteries will then also be manufactured in Grünheide.
The planned expansion of the company premises is currently on hold: Grünheide’s Mayor Arne Christiani (63) took the decision on the development plan off the agenda. Because he saw no majority for it among the community representatives.
