Tesla has hit another road block at Gigafactory Berlin due to difficulties securing permits, according to new report from Germany states. Now, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is stepping in.
Tesla wanted to move ahead with the construction of the buildings at Gigafactory Berlin without the final approval a few months ago. However, the company was able to get construction underway with individual permits that, until now, have been sufficient to continue its progress.
Now, a new report from Germany’s Automobilwoche claims that Tesla can not continue construction as planned (translated from German): “The construction work on the new Tesla plant in Grünheide is currently not progressing as planned. The reason is a lack of permits for further clearing and the paint shop.” Regardless of the lack of permits at the moment, the company is still aiming to start production in July 2021 according to people familiar with the project.
Last week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk made his way to Gigafactory Berlin in hopes of boosting hiring efforts as well as interviewing candidates personally. We are now learning that he also met with Jörg Steinbach, Brandenburg’s minister of economic affairs, to discuss the Gigafactory’s construction schedule and the company’s lack of permits.
Although no more information was released regarding said permits or if the issue was resolved, we do know that the completion of Gigafactory Berlin is imperative in Tesla’s ability to finally launch the Model Y in Europe. In addition, Gigafactory Berlin will house the production of new technologies planned for the Berlin Model Y including its new structural battery pack design and the 4680 battery cells it will use.