The development of the German factory Gigafactory Berlin of Tesla continues, while the first copies of the Model Y Long Autonomy have just come out. The site previously only assembled Performance versions.
It has already been several months since production began at the Tesla Gigafactory in Berlin, more than two years after Elon Musk’s first announcements regarding its construction. This a great step forward for the brand, which brought out the first copies of the Model Y Performance from European chains ²last March.
A NEW RELEASE
But until then, only this version was manufactured in this production site, which should eventually employ around 12,000 employees. Indeed, all the rest of the range, whether it is the electric SUV or the other models, are assembled in the United States, in the Austin plant or in China, and more precisely, in Shanghai.
This then inevitably increases delivery times for European customers, which could pose some problems for the brand in the future. Indeed, the French government is considering granting the ecological bonus only to vehicles manufactured in Europe.
But now Tesla had decided to speed things up when it was already planned that another variant would also be assembled in Berlin. Last August, we indeed mentioned the arrival of the Propulsion version in the German factory. As a reminder, this is the entry-level version, equipped with a battery of around 55 kWh and able to travel around 440 kilometres according to the WLTP cycle.
But finally, and as explained by the Tesmanian site, which relays the Tesla Drivers and Friends forum (TFF), the Long Autonomy version would also already be assembled in Berlin.
Gigafactory Berlin: DELIVERIES STARTING THIS SUMMER
According to the site, the first deliveries would have started in the greatest secrecy this summer, while a member of the forum would have taken possession of his vehicle on July 15. But the first copies would have first been delivered to Sixt rental agencies, while the company precisely wants to massively electrify its fleet over the next few years.
Several cars would also have been seen in dealerships, then bearing a serial number starting with XP7, proving that they did indeed come from the German factory. On September 20, a member of the Automobile Propre forum also published images of the delivery of its Model Y Long Range in Germany at the Tesla delivery centre in Kirchdorf.
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According to a customer relayed by Tasmanian, the chassis of the European version would be better than that of the SUV assembled in China. If the finish is correct, the latter, however, noted some small defects, such as slight damage to the bodywork and a gap in one of the doors. As a reminder, the Tesla Model Y Long Autonomy has a 78.8 kWh battery produced by LG, allowing it to travel up to 533 kilometres according to the WLTP cycle.
The 0 to 100 km/h is then achieved in five seconds for a maximum speed limited to 217 km/h. Then count 64,990 euros to offer you a copy, a price which does not give the right to the ecological bonus. Deliveries are scheduled between January and March 2023 for an order placed now, according to the configurator.