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100 million euros in investment: Tesla opens research center in Berlin

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Tesla has opened a new European development center in Berlin-Köpenick, where more than 250 employees work on material, drive and vehicle development.
The investment costs total 100 million euros.
The company also plans to double production at the Grünheide plant from 500,000 to one million cars per year.

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Why It Matters

Tesla operates its only European car factory in Grünheide near Berlin. The new development center in Berlin-Köpenick complements this location and will initially start with more than 250 employees who come from existing facilities in Tilburg and other laboratory locations.

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Tesla has big plans in Germany. Elon Musk's company is opening a development center in Berlin. Research into new vehicles, engines and materials will be carried out in the laboratories. The company also has ambitious plans for the plant in neighboring Grünheide.

The US electrical manufacturer Tesla has opened a new European development center in Berlin. Engineers and technicians work there in laboratories on material, drive and vehicle development, as the company announced. Tesla converted an old factory in Berlin-Köpenick for the location - not far from the Tesla car factory in Grünheide. Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner was also expected at the opening in the afternoon.

The development center will initially start in partial operation, as it was said. According to the company, more than 250 employees will work there in the first expansion stage. They come from existing facilities in Tilburg in the Netherlands and from other laboratory locations. Safety tests on vehicle parts - including airbags - and tests on battery cells are also carried out in a large hall.

Tesla announced that approval has already been applied for for the second expansion stage of the center. This should allow the location to grow to a total of around 500 engineers and technicians.

Production in Grünheide is to be doubled

The investment costs total 100 million euros, as Tesla announced. "The new Engineering Center once again underlines Tesla's long-term commitment to Germany as a strategic innovation location."

The Tesla factory in Grüneide is CEO Elon Musk's only car factory in Europe. It is to be further expanded in order to increase vehicle production. In mid-October it was said that Tesla wanted to double production on the site according to previous plans from a planned 500,000 cars a year - which has not yet been achieved - to one million a year.

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular in Germany. The reason for this is, among other things, increased fuel costs. In addition, according to the Federal Environment Ministry, the electric car bonus is in high demand.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

The development center in Berlin is growing to a total of around 500 engineers and technicians.
Likely · Within months
Vehicle production in Grünheide will double from 500,000 to one million cars per year.
Possible · Within months

Open Questions

When exactly should the second expansion stage of the development center be approved?
What specific schedules are there for doubling production in Grünheide?
How high are the investment costs for expanding the plant in Grünheide separately?