Tesla is reportedly delaying the launch of its Berlin Gigafactory, pushing the start of production back to January 2022.
Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk gave his German team an extra six months to commence production at the new plant, according to Automobilwoche, which cites company sources.
The carmaker had said on April 26 that production was scheduled to start at its German Gigafactory in late 2021, instead of July, which was the original deadline.
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According to the same report, and in addition to not having the final building permit, Tesla’s factory is having problems with the construction of the battery pack area. The sources said that battery production will start by the end of the year but areas like the press shop and the paint shop have made great progress.
A Tesla spokeswoman refused to comment on the report to Reuters, referring to their April 26 statement.
This isn’t the only issue Tesla is facing with its German factory, as the Brandenburg Ministry of Environment recently found during a routine investigation that some pipes used for plumbing were not suitable for industrial wastewater, posing a threat for the region’s drinking water.
The Berlin Gigafactory is planned to build the Model Y for the European market, as well as Tesla’s new 4680 ‘tabless’ battery cells. Tesla last month criticized Germany’s lengthy approval process for its new factory in a letter sent to a regional court in Berlin, saying that “this discourages necessary investments in clean-energy projects and infrastructure and makes it practically impossible for Germany to achieve its climate goals”.
