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Tesla completes site preparations for Berlin gigafactory

US electric car specialist Tesla appears to have completed site preparations for its Berlin ‘gigafactory’ production facility, according to a new video.


Aerial drone footage captured by YouTuber ‘Tesla Kid Grünheide’ (video at bottom of story), shows cleared land and access roads carved out of the 300 hectare site just outside Berlin.

Industrial ‘pile drivers’ are also visible on-site, suggesting that preparation of building foundations may commence soon.

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Tesla set itself an ambitious completion date of July 2021 for the Berlin site – which will be the electric car maker's fourth gigafactory and first in Europe – however COVID-19 concerns saw the brand withdraw its US employees from site preparation.

However, the new footage suggests production has resumed, with a side-by-side shot (claimed to be taken a week apart) showing the access roads have been built in just the last few weeks.

Last week, Germany’s economy minister Peter Altamaier said he did not expect any major delays to the construction of the Berlin factory due to the pandemic, as reported by news outlet Reuters.

The Berlin plant has been the subject of controversy in Germany, with an injunction against its construction being overturned by German courts earlier this year.

In late 2019, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the facility would be used to build batteries, powertrains and electric cars starting with the Model Y small SUV.

Tesla Berlin gigafactory drone footage

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