It was five years ago today that CEO Elon Musk announced plans for Tesla’s second major production facility outside of the United States near Berlin, Germany. Today, Tesla is celebrating the achievements of Giga Berlin, which has emerged as a major production hub for the Tesla Model Y in Europe.
In a video shared by the official Tesla Manufacturing account on X, the company highlights the numerous milestones Giga Berlin has reached since breaking ground. Despite initial challenges, including navigating Germany’s stringent environmental regulations and facing delays due to protestors and the COVID-19 pandemic, Giga Berlin has become one of Tesla’s most advanced factories, producing over 400,000 Model Y units to date, as Drive Tesla first reported last month.
While best known for producing the Model Y, the factory has also produced over 500,000 drive units that power them. The Model Y vehicles produced at Giga Berlin are now distributed across 37 countries.
Beyond producing vehicles, Giga Berlin has a commitment to sustainability, making it one of Tesla’s greenest facilities. Over 90% of the plant’s process wastewater is recycled, setting a new benchmark for environmental responsibility in automotive manufacturing. Additionally, Tesla has installed solar panels at the site that have generated an impressive 6.9 GWh of solar energy, helping to power the factory and reduce its carbon footprint.
Continuing on the green theme, Tesla says they have reforested and planted over 2 million trees across 300 hectares of nearby land.
The scale of operations at Giga Berlin has also made it a significant employer in the region, with a workforce of over 12,000 employees. To support its employees, Tesla has introduced numerous amenities, including the Giga Gym, equipped with fitness facilities, and of course, the Rave Cave.
Transportation to and from the site has also been made more sustainable. Tesla’s shuttle buses have facilitated over 270,000 trips, and earlier this year, the factory’s Giga Train was converted to an electric model, emphasizing Tesla’s dedication to green mobility even within its operations.
You can watch the full video below.
Happy 5th Gigaversary pic.twitter.com/XqSAzq7rHf
— Tesla Manufacturing (@gigafactories) November 12, 2024
