Tesla’s plans to expand Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg appear to be on halt for the time being, as the plant’s local council has removed it from an upcoming agenda.
Grünheide, Germany Mayor Arne Christiani removed Tesla’s plans for expansion from a September council meeting on Wednesday, requesting clarification on the automaker’s plans, as reported by German publication RBB 24 (via Reuters).
Christiani also would not say whether the council planned to address the agenda item by the end of the year. It’s unclear why the item was removed, but it suggests the expansion may take longer than expected.
The news comes after Tesla submitted an expansion application for Giga Berlin in May, to build on an additional 100 hectares to the east of the factory. The expansion was expected to increase the factory’s size by around a third and would add a freight and logistics station.
Tesla’s Giga Berlin Making up to 1,900 Model Y Units Weekly, New Colors in Testing: Report https://t.co/WEpVuRlI4h
— TeslaNorth.com (@RealTeslaNorth) August 25, 2022
Tesla’s Giga Berlin is also currently expanding the factory to include a battery plant.
On Sunday, Tesla held a town hall event at Giga Berlin to detail environmental progress made since the plant’s opening in the spring.
Tesla detailed lowered water consumption at the plant than at most factories, and plans to produce as many as 5,000 cars per week at the Grünheide plant by Q1 2023.
Additionally, Tesla shared its concept for an inbound railway to be built in the 100-hectare expansion plan.
