The electric car manufacturer Tesla will build its European car factory in the outskirts of Berlin. This announced Tesla boss Elon Musk last night at an awards ceremony in Berlin. At the German location, the future of the future compact SUV Model Y as well as batteries and drives should be built. The reactions from the car industry are mixed.
The settlement of the factory in Germany has symbolic power. Tesla ventures into the homeland of the German manufacturers, who have been transfigured for years as a premium provider. Tesla fights for the same clientele - so comes the Model 3 as a direct opponent of BMW's 3 Series.
"It is a clear signal that Elon Musk sends out," says Stefan Bratzel, director of the Center of Automotive Management (CAM). Tesla does not shy away from the comparison with the established manufacturers, the expert said. "Tesla is the first foreign manufacturer in a long time to produce in Germany," says Bratzel.
Although BMW, VW and Mercedes Tesla see long ago as a serious competitor. Nevertheless, with the announcement of Musk the pressure for the German auto companies continues to increase. "Soon they will have Tesla right on their doorstep," says Bratzel. "That's good for the German manufacturers, because it further increases the tension." Tesla confused the ranking of the local carmakers with it. Bratzel says that Tesla's image could benefit from a German factory and attract more buyers. Dramatic changes are not to be expected "many Germans will continue to buy from the domestic manufacturers."
More radiance than 100 chancellor summits
Ferdinand Dudenhöffer also sees an impulse for e-mobility in general: "For the car location Germany, Musk announcement is good news," says the car expert at the University of Duisburg-Essen. "With the decision of Elon Musk for Germany, we are strengthened and electric mobility is picking up more speed than at 100 chancellor summits in Berlin." At the same time, Dudenhöffer doubted whether production could begin as early as 2021 - Musk had to keep up with the finances and China had priority for him.
If you ask the German manufacturers, the reactions are different. While BMW and Mercedes do not want to comment on Tesla's announcement, the news at Volkswagen is being received very positively. In Wolfsburg you feel confirmed in terms of your own electric car strategy. The more and the faster the e-mobility is driven, the better - even from competitors, according to company circles of VW.
At the award ceremony, at which Musk announced his plan, VW CEO Herbert Diess personally congratulated the Tesla boss on the success of his company and thanked him for his pioneering work. "Tesla is very important to us because Elon demonstrates that it works," Diess said, referring to Tesla's achievements.
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Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) says that the decision to build a "state-of-the-art electric car factory" in Germany is "further proof of the attractiveness of Germany as an automotive location." The announcement is also a "milestone in the expansion of electric mobility and battery expertise," said Altmaier.
Setting the course in terms of electromobility
Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke called the decision an "excellent news for our country". "We have been using this for some time in intensive discussions and with good arguments," said the SPD politician.
Green Party leader Anton Hofreiter says the announcement is a "good impulse" for the modernization of the German auto industry. "Now the federal government must set the course for electromobility, for example, with a purchase premium, which is paid by the buyers oversized gas guzzler, and an offensive for private charging stations, "says Hofreiter.
Expert Dudenhöffer believes that the federal government must now rethink the promotion of battery production. It should be considered what sense the one billion euros still have, the Minister of Economic Affairs Altmaier wanted to put in a German lithium-ion fabrication. The planned battery research factory in North Rhine-Westphalia with 200 million euros state funds is now questioned, so Dudenhöffer.
Small side blow of the VDA
Outgoing President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) Bernhard Mattes said that Musk's announcement showed Germany's importance for the ramp-up of electromobility in Europe. At the same time Mattes can not resist a swipe: "If the plans are implemented in a few years, this means a further boost for electric mobility," said the VDA president. Musk had already announced the completion of the work near Berlin in 2021, almost the day after tomorrow. However, this schedule seems to be in doubt at the VDA. In addition, in its statement on the Tesla offensive, the VDA emphasized the efforts of German manufacturers in the field of electromobility.
Headwinds for Tesla see, however, other industry experts come. The construction of such a plant would not only bring jobs, but also ensure that know-how is brought to Germany. "In the medium term, this will also benefit the other manufacturers in Germany," says Peter Fintl from the technology consultancy Altran. However, the German manufacturers were not idle until now. "Tesla will meet strong competition here for the first time in 2021," says Fintl.
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Photo gallery: The Electric News 2020The Tesla factory in Germany is expected to go into operation by the end of 2021, according to Musk. The model Y should then be the first vehicle from the factory. The compact SUV based on the current Tesla hopefuls Model 3 could, according to experts, the best-selling vehicle of the company. The Model 3 is currently available in Germany from a price of more than 44,000 euros.
Tesla is currently the market leader in pure electric cars in Germany. From the beginning of the year until the end of October, according to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), 9,301 E-cars were newly registered by Tesla. This corresponds to a market share of 17.6 percent. In second place follows Renault with 8330 pure Stromern before BMW with 7957, VW (6208) and Smart (5862).
