Tesla wants to double the production capacity of its assembly plant outside Berlin to one million electric vehicles a year, a move that would make it the largest car plant in Europe at a time when German automakers are struggling to keep pace in the transition to electric vehicles.
Since it began production in Grünheide 16 months ago, Tesla has disrupted the German automobile landscape.
Over the first half of this year, for the first time, it eclipsed Volkswagen in electric vehicle sales.
Volkswagen and other German automakers, including BMW and Mercedes-Benz, have spent years fumbling their attempts to produce electric cars that can compete with Tesla in price and popularity.
Across the continent in June, new registrations of electric cars increased more than 66 percent from a year earlier, outselling diesel cars for the first time, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.
Persons:
Tesla
Organizations:
Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Benz, Tesla, European Automobile Manufacturers ’ Association
Locations:
Berlin, Europe, Grünheide, Wolfsburg