The gigafactory of electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla in Germany is in the final stages of completion after two years. However, the mega project is facing a few local hurdles, before it can be up and running next year. The factory could begin production early next year.
Earlier in October, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had said that he wished that the first Tesla Model Y would rollout from the German factory in December 2021. Now, it looks like the earliest rollout from the assembly lines will optimistically be sometime in January 2022.
Dietmar Woidke, who is the prime minister of Brandenburg state, said, “The approval will come at some point. I don’t know exactly what day of the week- but it is foreseeable: it will probably be at the beginning of the year.
Tesla has faced environmental objections as well as government procedures that have delayed the opening. Musk has often criticized the bureaucracy for slowing down the opening of Tesla’s first factory in Europe.
The latest problem is a water pumping issue that is yet to be resolved. The Tesla facility is expected to pump huge quantities of water for its requirements. This had raised concern from local environmental groups. The matter was to be heard in November but was delayed due to the pandemic.
The Tesla plant in Berlin-Brandenburg has been in the making since two years. Although it has been praised for giving a boost to the local economy, it has also faced several environmental challenges. Tesla might also face labor shortages as there are enough and more large automakers in Germany.
Tesla needs to have its plant running at the earliest to meet its current bookings in Europe as well as capture the market before traditional automakers rollout their electric vehicles from the same country. Germany is the hub of the auto industry in Europe.
