It was a construction in record time: Despite the German authorities, protests and critics, Tesla built its new electric car plant in Grünheide within 861 days of the announcement. Tesla is now “Made in Germany”!
By Hauke Schrieber
Tuesday at 1:43 p.m., accompanied by cheers and rock music, the first Model Y of the US electric car pioneer rolled off the assembly line of the Giga Berlin-Brandenburg, now Europe’s largest electric car factory.
30 new Tesla customers personally accepted their car from Musk. Customer number 1: Reiner Puls (61) from Karlsruhe. The self-employed mechanical engineer is happy: “After the Roadster, two Model S and a Model X, this is my fourth Tesla.”
Elon Musk hands him the key card. “Tesla has long been part of my family.” Its performance model (3.7 seconds to 100 km/h; 250 km/h top speed, range up to 514 km) is the first super-fast Tesla SUV in Europe.
The first tour with the black “Giga 001” will soon be in the Swiss Alps. The currently extreme fuel prices do not bother fans of e-mobility.
The Giga celebration with Giga guests
Musk (dark suit, white shirt, tie) at the opening in German: “Thank you Brandenburg, thank you Grünheide, thank you Germany.” The multi-billionaire continued: “With solar power, wind energy and storage, we ensure sustainability. Believe in the future!” The 500 invited guests cheer.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in an emotional speech: “This is a sign that something is moving in Germany. Electromobility is the mobility of the future – that has been clear since today.”
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) also accepted Musk’s invitation.
Habeck saw the rapid construction of the Tesla car factory in Grünheide near Berlin as an incentive for future projects. “Of course, this short time of factory construction can also be a bit of a requirement for Tesla pace in other areas, too,” said the Green politician at the opening of the plant. “I’m working on it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
Habeck recalled that the US company had started building before the permits were available. “If the permits hadn’t come, they would have had to dismantle. It’s a different corporate daring culture – but it worked.”
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“A special day for the region, a special day for Germany and a special day for the mobility turnaround in Germany,” he said.
From now on, a new Model Y from the highly efficient plant runs in Grünheide every 45 seconds. “Delivery Day” ends with music: “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
Musk landed in Berlin on Monday and was already there full of anticipation. In the evening he announced on Twitter: “We are delighted to hand over the first production vehicles from Giga Berlin-Brandenburg!” – and he kept his word!
Tesla plans in a first stage with up to 500,000 cars a year and around 12,000 employees. A battery factory is under construction.
But there were also protests from opponents of the factory, who were critical of the water extraction by the factory.
Nevertheless, 20 activists are protesting in front of gate 1 of the “Giga Berlin”. The Tesla “made in Germany” roll past them silently.