Automobile - Tesla delays vehicle manufacturing for a period of five days.
The American electric car company, Tesla, will be closing down its European plant in Gruenheide, close to Berlin for five days this year. These shutdowns are scheduled to take place on July 7, 14, 17, 27, and 28, as confirmed by a spokesperson. Reportedly, these planned breaks are to enhance the efficiency of the manufacturing facilities and optimize availability and production cycles.
In contrast to previous shutdowns, these upcoming ones won't affect vehicle and drive train production. Instead, they'll affect the foundry and battery cell production. According to a communication to the workers, there will be five days of “short box stops.”
Tesla has faced multiple production delays this year. In late January, the company halted production for about two weeks at its Gruenheide plant due to the attacks by the Yemeni Huthi militia on ships in the Red Sea. In March, the power supply near the factory was targeted, resulting in a power outage that almost completely halted car production for a week. This incident was claimed by the left-wing “Vulkan Group”. The Federal Public Prosecutor has launched an investigation.
In May, a group of environmental activists attempted to storm the Tesla site during protest days after Ascension Day. The police intervened, and as a result, no cars were produced that day. Despite this, Tesla characterized the day as a “Bridge Day”.
This factory, located just outside Berlin, has employed over 12,000 people and has been involved in electric car production for over two years. Following the global job cuts announced by Tesla in response to the dip in the market for electric cars, hundreds of jobs in Gruenheide are also at risk. In April, the company announced a reduction of 400 jobs in Gruenheide.
Despite the recent setbacks, Tesla remains optimistic about the future. The plant's goal is to manufacture two million cars annually. The current target of a million cars has not been met, but the company still plans to expand the site with a freight yard and logistics facilities. However, the plan to expand the factory site has faced criticism, with local councilors approving the construction plan, and a citizen survey opposing the expansion.
