BERLIN, March 22 — US electric car pioneer Tesla will today inaugurate its new “gigafactory” near Berlin, with CEO Elon Musk flying in to present customers with the first Model Y vehicles made in Europe.
The opening caps an arduous two-year approval and construction process that saw Tesla run into a series of administrative and legal hurdles, including complaints from locals about the site’s environmental impact. The “gigafactory” in Gruenheide, in Germany’s eastern state of Brandenburg, is Tesla’s first production site in Europe, and local officials are hoping it will help the region position itself as a hub for electric vehicle production.
The first 30 of the all-electric, compact SUVs to roll off the assembly line will be delivered to customers during today’s ceremony.Tesla’s arrival is likely to jolt Germany’s flagship auto industry, setting the stage for fierce competition with rivals Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz as they pivot from traditional engines to cleaner electric vehicles.