It has been reported several times that the final approval for Tesla’s Gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin is imminent, but this time it seems to be true: on Sunday, the Tagesspiegel reported that before the end of this week, the long-awaited Tesla approval will be granted, and a report by the Handelsblatt published on Thursday with roughly the same, but partly more specific information. Accordingly, Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke wants to announce details on Friday.
Update: At the request of other media, the Brandenburg Ministry of the Environment did not initially confirm that the Tesla permit was ready. However, around noon it sent out a press release, according to which the process is “close to completion”. It also contains the information that there will be a press conference on the subject with Prime Minister Woidke on Friday at 3:30 p.m. Brandenburg’s economics and environment ministers are also to take part, as well as a representative of the Oder-Spree district and the mayor of the municipality of Grünheide – i.e. all levels in Brandenburg that have something to do with the Tesla project.
Proof required before Tesla production
“Tesla receives final approval for plant in Grünheide,” reads the headline of the Handelsblatt article. At least from the freely accessible part of the text, it is not clear whether this is still related to the future or has already taken place. However, the approval process was “completed”. A press conference with Prime Minister Woidke is planned for Friday in Potsdam. So Tesla doesn’t necessarily have the decision yet, but it seems to have been completed.
This had been apparent for some time after, according to the state government, all the documents required by Tesla had been submitted before Christmas and inquiries about them had been answered by February. Since then, it has been said that the process is in its final phase. Also in February, however, a representative of the Ministry of the Environment mentioned for the first time that the Approval not yet to be understood as the official starting signal for Tesla is: Before the start of series production, further requirements would have to be met and evidence submitted, which could take a few weeks.
First Model Y for customers before the end of March
At least according to the Tesla planning, it seems to be less than three weeks. The information is not mentioned in the Handelsblatt article, but the daily mirror had previously reported, the ceremonial handover of the first 30 Model Y from Grünheide to their customers with the presence of CEO Elon Musk is planned for March 22nd or 23rd. Deliveries should obviously also be possible by then. This date could be delayed depending on how post-grant acceptance is progressing. But at least the long-awaited approval for the German Tesla factory is now apparently ready and will be handed over on Friday.