Strike Against Tesla

As noted in an rbb24 report, Berlin’s Labor Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD) ended up pissing off a lot of people, especially in Brandenburg, after she dubbed Teslas “Nazi” cars on social media platform X. In her post, Kiziltepe wrote, “Who wants to drive a Nazi car?” She also shared a news article that highlighted Tesla’s decline in Germany in the first quarter, titled “Electric Car Manufacturers Experience Sales Boom—Apart from Tesla.”

Kiziltepe’s Tesla comment garnered so much negative attention that she ended up deleting her post. She did, however, share a follow-up which explained that her sentiments against CEO Elon Musk do not extend to the thousands that Tesla employs, especially in Germany. 

“Tesla is currently experiencing a sales slump because customers attribute the right-wing extremist positions of its shareholder Elon Musk, who holds around 13% of the company. I explicitly stand by my assessment of Elon Musk. Of course, this does not mean that I hold Musk’s employees or customers responsible for his political positions,” the senator wrote in her post on X.

Brandenburg Backlash

A lot of the anger that resulted from Kiziltepe’s post came from other officials, such as Brandenburg’s Minister of Economic Affairs and SPD party colleague Daniel Keller. The official’s sentiments are understandable considering that Tesla Gigafactory Berlin is the largest employer in the region, providing jobs to thousands of people in the area. 

“Such a Nazi comparison hurts the people who work there and is completely inappropriate for a labor senator. I expect the labor senator to retract her historically unacceptable comparison and return objectively to the major economic and labor market policy challenges that Berlin and Brandenburg should tackle together.

“Everyone can have their own personal opinion about Elon Musk. But it’s important to me that we don’t forget the people behind the Tesla factory in Grünheide. 11,000 people from 150 nations work here – more than half of the employees live in Berlin… Brandenburg and Berlin benefit from this in terms of employment and value creation,” Keller noted, highlighting that Giga Berlin provides well-paying, permanent jobs.

Equally Pissed Off

In a comment to the BZ newspaper, Brandenburg’s Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) stated that Kiziltepe’s comments were out of place, because in addition to the numerous Berliners who work at Giga Berlin, people from about 150 nations also work at the plant. Berlin CDU parliamentary group leader Dirk Stettner was more direct, stating that the Berlin Senator’s post was a “dangerous relativization of Nazi terror and thus also of the Holocaust.” 

The Berlin-Brandenburg Business Association (UVB) shared their frustrations with the senator as well, with General Manager Alexander Schirp stating that Kiziltepe’s comments were unbecoming of someone who sits at the Berlin Senate. Schirp also stated that the comments were an affront to Tesla employees. “This will not increase the manufacturer’s chances of investing in the capital. Statements of this magnitude do not bode well for the election campaign,” Keller stated.

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Tesla Giga Berlin boasts the world’s largest free charging park.

Visitors to Tesla’s Gigafactory in Grünheide can’t miss the sprawling network of 546 charging stations peppering the parking areas, dwarfing other global contenders. The U.S. automaker’s setup snatched the title of the world’s largest charging park from a 259-station lot in Merklingen, Germany, per the German Automobile Association (ADAC).

Located off the A10 near Berlin, Tesla’s charging hub isn’t just for show. Tesla Giga Berlin’s EV charging areas feature 527 chargers in the south, 19 in the north, and 226 covered charging stations. The stations pack 11-kilowatt chargers, delivering up to 71 kilometers of range hourly.

Tesla’s covered EV chargers tap into hundreds of solar panels mounted onto the parking lot roofs. The American EV maker shared that with the solar panels, the covered EV chargers have a maximum power capacity of 1 MW.

Tesla’s solar panel system eases concerns about its free charging straining local grids during peak demand. The Gigafactory’s charging hub serves practical needs and showcases Tesla’s vision for an EV-driven future.

Most of Tesla Giga Berlin’s stations are free for employees, visitors, and passersby. The only Tesla chargers subject to monetary charges are the Superchargers.

A Tesla spokesperson noted, “There is also a public Supercharger station, which is subject to regular rates.” The 19 V4 Superchargers, open to all EV brands at 250 kW, cost non-Tesla drivers 53 cents per kWh.

Last month, Tesla Giga Berlin produced its 500,000th Model Y unit after opening on March 22, 2022. It took the factory over 1,100 days to produce half a million Model Y vehicles. Compared to Giga Shanghai, Giga Berlin’s speed is lacking. However, Tesa’s factory in Germany has significantly contributed to the company’s goals since it started operations.

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Tesla launched an all-new Model Y design last Thursday that was available for China and Australia, as well as other surrounding markets. For example, Model Y orders in the Philippines are automatically being converted to the new “Juniper” body design.

However, the expansion of the new Model Y project was relatively unknown, as Tesla did not reveal when it planned to push the new version of the vehicle to markets outside of Asia and the South Pacific.

Now it appears we have more information. Managers at Tesla’s Giga Berlin plant told employees that they would be building the new Model Y in-house as early as this week, a report from German media outlet Handelsblatt reported.

It now appears the first unit was built in a trial run, and Tesla is keeping it within the walls of Giga Berlin, letting all 12,000 employees autograph it:

Das erste Model, was uns gestern gezeigt wurde, steht heute bereit um mit 12.000 Unterschriften verziert zu werden. Das wird in Ehren gehalten. ?????

— Se Bastian (@Se_Ba11) January 14, 2025

The post on X said (via Google Translate):

“The first model that was shown to us yesterday is ready today to be decorated with 12,000 signatures. This will be honored.”

Tesla has not yet confirmed that it has built the vehicle, and it has also not opened up orders for the updated design in Germany or any other European market. This could take a little bit of time, as employees will have to be updated on the changes during the manufacturing process.

The Handelsblatt report stated that Tesla updated manufacturing lines for the new Model Y during the holiday break.

?JUNIPER GETS GERMAN: The first Model Y “Juniper” unit has rolled off of production lines at Gigafactory Berlin and will be signed by employees at the plant

The Juniper Era is Here!

via @EFIEBER_ANDRE pic.twitter.com/SeUXCXBQgR

— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 14, 2025

With that being said, it seems like the new Model Y will be hitting the European market before the U.S., which is something most of us expected. Model Y demand in the United States is still healthy, as it was the best-selling electric vehicle in the country in 2024.

It did feel a 6.6 percent decrease in sales compared to 2023, but Tesla made it aware that its focus would be on the next-generation platform, which impacted all models.

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Last Thursday, Tesla launched what is the newest iteration of the all-electric crossover Model Y in China.

Speculation on whether Tesla would develop a new Model Y has persisted for weeks, but it was finally confirmed last week after the automaker put it up for sale on the company’s website.

Two configurations were launched in China and some surrounding markets, like Australia, last week: a Rear-Wheel-Drive and an All-Wheel Drive. Tesla also introduced a “Launch Edition,” which comes with some exclusive materials and badges.

Tesla launches new Model Y in China: Here’s what’s new

Tesla also added several other features, some of which are geared toward an improvement of the Full Self-Driving suite.

Now, it appears that Tesla is moving toward expanding production of the new Model Y to other markets and factories, as German media is reporting that employees at Gigafactory Berlin are being told by management that they will start building the refreshed vehicle as early as Tuesday.

?OFF TO BERLIN: Tesla has told employees that the new Model Y will begin production at Giga Berlin as soon as Tuesday, January 14 (via @Gf4Tesla) pic.twitter.com/3dMZ2kLAdS

— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 13, 2025

This could be a huge development for Tesla as a company as the Model Y was already the best-selling vehicle in Germany in 2024, with 29,896 units sold in the country, according to EU-EVs.

It was also the best seller in Europe last year as 159,211 units were sold across the EU. The Model 3 was second, with 81,156 units sold. Tesla held 15.8 percent of the EU’s electric vehicle market last year, beating Volkswagen, which had 9.6 percent.

The new design could encourage recent buyers to upgrade. This could translate to quite a few repeat sales for Tesla as it moves forward and hopes to grow deliveries to over two million this year.

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In a Tuesday post on the company’s Manufacturing X page, Tesla shared a video pointing to how much it has accomplished at its Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg this year, despite many of the challenges the team faced from start to finish in 2024. These especially included some of Tesla’s factory closures and multiple attempts by environmental activists to derail the company’s production plans, seemingly to very little avail.

Tesla’s Giga Berlin produces the company’s Model Y crossover for much of Europe and surrounding markets. In January, Tesla’s Giga Berlin was forced to halt production due to armed conflicts in the Red Sea, causing a halt in output starting on January 29. However, the company managed to resume production at full speed by February 12.

READ MORE ON TESLA’S GIGA BERLIN: Tesla shows off solar, Powerwall-backed display at Giga Berlin

Then, just a month later in March, Tesla was forced to halt production at Giga Berlin once again. This time, the pause was due to an arson attack on the factory’s main power substation, with the environmental activist organization Vulcan Group claiming responsibility for the attack.

The group went on to say that it was aiming to stop production at the factory, due to environmental issues with Tesla overall, Elon Musk, and what it called “technofascism.” After a little more than a week, Tesla managed to resume production at Giga Berlin, and Musk later went on to call for the attackers to be caught and punished, while one Minister tried to encourage Musk and Tesla to focus on their public relations efforts.

In May, activists also attempted to storm Giga Berlin and get inside, causing injuries of at least one protestor and three police officers. The company continued to face protest efforts from environmental activist groups throughout the year, with some that same month also creating treehouses in nearby forests that Tesla planned to chop down for its upcoming factory expansion.

Although Tesla promised to re-plant three times as many trees as it removed, the protestors remained active in the area up through last month, when police finally managed to vacate the groups and dismantle their treehouses.

Despite all of these barriers, Tesla’s video also highlights many of the things Tesla did for its employees, along with reaching 500,000 drive units in August and 400,000 total Model Y units built at Giga Berlin by September. You can check out Tesla’s full 2024 recap video from Giga Berlin below.

2024 – a year for the books at Giga Berlin pic.twitter.com/6iIwMhkdwn

— Tesla Manufacturing (@gigafactories) December 31, 2024

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

Tesla Giga Berlin plant manager still optimistic despite Germany’s EV market

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This was highlighted by plant manager André Thierig, who stated to the German Press Agency that Giga Berlin serves 37 markets, predominantly in Europe, but also extending to the Near and Middle East, as well as Taiwan.

A Beacon of Success: 

• In a comment to the German Press Agency, Thierig described Giga Berlin as a “beacon in the automotive industry.”
• The executive also noted that the facility proves that successful electric vehicle production is possible in Germany.

GigaBerlin is defying the crisis in the electric car market. Plant manager Thierig explains why he is positive.
He described the only European e-car factory as a "beacon in the automotive industry" He emphasized that successful e-car production in Germany has proven itself. pic.twitter.com/4dDcmRfyLN

— Gigafactory Berlin News (@Gf4Tesla) December 23, 2024

Navigating Turbulence:

• The year has been fraught with challenges for Giga Berlin, including production stoppages due to Red Sea disruptions, an attack on its power supply, and ongoing protests against its operations. 
• Giga Berlin also saw an attempted occupation by activists in May.
• Thierig, however, still expects a positive closure to the year.
• Tesla has taken steps to stabilize its workforce by converting temporary workers to permanent staff and offering a 4% pay increase above the collective agreement in November. 
• Giga Berlin still has not unionized, however, drawing criticism from IG Metall.

Expansion and Permits:

• For now, Tesla Germany is not rushing to expand Gigafactory Berlin’s physical footprint. 
• The Brandenburg State Environmental Agency has granted permits for optimizing the facility’s current operations, but approval for new expansions or buildings is still pending.
• The facility’s water usage remains a hot topic as well, though Tesla has secured a new water contract with higher limits.
• Thierig urged the federal government to implement a reliable economic policy, as further growth in Giga Berlin would create more personnel requirements.

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WSE approved a draft of the new contract, according to the association’s Chairman of assembly and mayor of Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf, Thomas Krieger (CDU). Tesla Giga Berlin would need to approve the draft as well for the water supply contract to push through. Based on previous drafts of the contract, Tesla will lower its water supply volume and commit to new wastewater regulations. 

According to RBB 24, Tesla’s commitment to new wastewater regulations hints that Giga Berlin might discharge more polluted sanitary wastewater. The increase in polluted sanitary wastewater might come from Tesla Giga Berlin’s expansion, which is expected to increase the factory’s annual production capacity from 500,000 to 1 million units. 

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Unfortunately for the Grünheide police, they were left with a rather dirty task afterward—the cleanup of the protesters’ encampment. As noted in a report from B.Z., after the anti-Tesla camp was cleared, the forest resembled a hazardous waste landfill. Paint, silicone cartridges, batteries, plastic tarpaulins, and tensioning straps littered the ground.

What’s worse, the police also had to clean up several plastic buckets that were filled with human waste. As per the B.Z. report, the filled plastic buckets were stacked up next to a makeshift toilet.

#GigaBerlinBrandenburg
This is what it looks like when so-called"environmentalists" leave their protest camp against the GigaBerlin.
Paint, silicone cartridges, batteries,after the evacuation of the Tesla camp, the forest resembles a hazardous waste dump.https://t.co/otXgyRLhzL pic.twitter.com/N3XutrORHl

— Gigafactory Berlin News (@Gf4Tesla) November 25, 2024

“It looks like a hazardous waste dump here. We were here for eight months in heat, wind and weather and now we have to clean up the occupiers’ dirt,” a police officer stated.

The anti-Tesla protesters have been camping in the area for almost nine months. Brandenburg’s Interior Minister Michael Stübgen was looking to ban the camp as early as spring. However, the Higher Administrative Court confirmed the encampment’s initial approval. 

The camp was eventually cleared by authorities over repeated violations and alleged crimes committed by left-wing radicals, the publication noted. During the dismantling of the anti-Tesla Giga Berlin encampment, a total of 18 people were detained because they illegally remained in the treehouses and treetops during the eviction process.

Giga Berlin has been subjected to a lot of opposition from critics and protesters over the years. Back in May alone, a large number of anti-Tesla protesters attempted to breach the grounds of Giga Berlin. Authorities had to get involved, with police being on-site with water canons and a clearing rank. A number of Model Y units were also vandalized by protesters at the time.

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On Thursday, November 21, 2024, police started dismantling the treehouse protesters built to keep Tesla from expanding Giga Berlin. According to local reports, the last 20 treehouses were taken down carefully. Over the next few days, police will start disposing of the debris left from the demolished treehouses. 

Earlier this week, Grünheide announced the dissolution of the protesters gathering around Tesla Giga Berlin, citing legal violations. At the time, the municipality of Grünheide issued a general order prohibiting civilians from entering the area where the treehouses were built for an indefinite period of time. 

Police started clearing the area covered by the general order, thereby removing Tesla Giga Berlin expansion protestors from the nearby forest. The clearing results in a total of 18 people being temporarily detained. The people detained had illegally remained in treehouses built near Tesla Giga Berlin. 

The treehouse protesters have been permitted to stay in the forest near Tesla Giga Berlin for nearly nine months.

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The wage increases come at a time when some German automakers are having trouble keeping the doors of some of their facilities open. Volkswagen plans to close at least three factories in the country, which has the potential to result in tens of thousands of jobs being cut.

Tesla announced the raises on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Earlier this month, Tesla made 500 temporary jobs permanent, bolstering the plant’s workforce and economic position as it trends in a different direction than German giant VW.

Tesla HR director Erik Demmler said:

This is further particularly welcome news for our workforce – especially at a time when many companies in the German automotive industry are talking about job cuts and plant closures.”

IG Metall has been at the center of nearly any criticism of Tesla and its workplace conditions. It has claimed that working conditions at the plant don’t leave time for “leisure, family, and recovery” and has said it has gained members from health and safety concerns at the plant.

Tesla has sparred with union organizations for years, and not just in Europe. The automaker was part of a major conflict with unions because of a refusal to sign a collective bargaining agreement with IF Metall in Sweden. In the United States, the United Auto Workers union has pushed to organize at Tesla’s Fremont Factory.

UAW’s efforts to unionize Tesla ‘absolutely’ supported by President Joe Biden

Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk has offered for the UAW to come to hold a vote, the organization has never taken him up on the offer. Additionally, Tesla has fought several lawsuits that claimed workers were not allowed to wear pro-Union merchandise.

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