Tesla plans to employ fewer people at its German plant

Tesla is pushing the pace. In the new plant in Brandenburg, an early start of production is “essential”. After a plan change there are now details on the number of jobs.

The US electric car manufacturer Tesla expects up to 10,500 employees to work in shifts for its planned first factory in Europe near Berlin. Originally there was talk of 12,000 people who are to be employed in the Gigafactory in Grünheide (Brandenburg). However, Tesla has once again changed the original application for environmental approval.


From the car manufacturer’s documents presented at the beginning of the month, it appears that, contrary to the initial plans, the battery and plastic production are no longer required.

A maximum of 500,000 vehicles per year are expected to roll off the assembly line in the new plant from July next year. According to the car manufacturer’s plans, the maximum should be reached as quickly as possible.

The company is currently still looking for specialists. In Tesla’s application for environmental approval, different information is given on the number of employees per shift. According to information from industry circles, between 3000 and 3500 employees will work in one shift in the future, three shifts per day are planned.

An essential aspect of the public interest is the “positive regional and national economic effect, which will result in up to approx. 12,000 direct jobs (including a number of apprenticeship positions) with full production capacity utilization,” says the application.

In addition, the project will enable “numerous synergy effects with local industries” and promote the influx of other industries. This will “significantly” strengthen the regional economic structure.

Tesla sees project under “considerable time pressure”

Doubts about Tesla’s job plans arose after the plan changes became known. “The decision to forego battery cell production and plastic production weakens the location and is extremely unfortunate,” said the Vice President of the FDP parliamentary group, Michael Theurer, the Handelsblatt. “The lower vertical integration means that fewer employees and less added value can be expected.”


The Ministry of Labor and Economics in Potsdam, on the other hand, expressed the expectation that the changed plans would not result in any fundamental changes in labor requirements.

The complete environmental approval for the construction is still pending. However, Tesla emphasizes in its modified building application that the implementation of the project is “under considerable time pressure”. “The demand in the European markets for cheap electric cars is high.” In order to accelerate the energy and transport transition in Europe, an “early start of production is essential”.

In view of the complexity and scope of the construction project and the tight schedule, Tesla, as the documents say, “is very keen to avoid delays in the construction process”.

Tesla has cleared part of the area at its own risk and is preparing to build it. Critics fear that the factory will have negative consequences for the environment. So far, 373 objections have been received. The car manufacturer, however, assures that the measures associated with the early start of construction would have “no significant adverse effects” on so-called protected areas, so that a positive decision in the approval process can be expected.

On the other hand, Tesla has committed itself to “replace all damage caused by the construction of the plant up to the decision and, if the project is not approved, to restore the previous state”.

Until September 3, citizens can still raise new objections to changes to the application for approval. A public hearing is scheduled for September 23.

Author: Nabeel K
Email: nabeel@wheelsjoint.com



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