New Tesla development centre planned in Berlin

Tesla executive Lars Moravy, who oversees the development division, announced the move to German press agency DPA. The company will renovate an old factory complex with a footprint of around 20,000 square metres. Located in Köpenick, the new site sits roughly halfway between the city centre and the Brandenburg plant in Grünheide.

Tesla had already promised a European development centre in the Berlin area when the Gigafactory was first announced, but has not acted on it until now. The company reviewed more than three dozen locations and even considered a new build before opting for Köpenick. The site was chosen “because of its generous space, strong energy supply – and the location between Berlin and Grünheide,” Moravy said. He hopes to conduct initial technical tests later this year, though early 2026 appears more realistic. Construction will only begin once permits for the conversion are granted.

Around 130 engineers will initially relocate to Köpenick. They are already employed at Tesla and currently spread across the Grünheide plant and smaller Berlin sites. In the coming years, up to 250 engineers are expected to work at the new centre. Their tasks will include material research as well as vehicle and drive development, though Moravy did not disclose further details.

Tesla employs around 2,000 engineers and technicians in Germany across multiple sites, including Tesla Grohmann Automation in Prüm, acquired years ago. Roughly one-fifth of Tesla’s global development workforce is thus based in Germany. According to Moravy, Germany played a leading role in the refresh of the premium Model S and Model X.

Tesla has recently lost ground in European registrations. In July, EU sales dropped 42 per cent year-on-year to around 6,600 vehicles, according to ACEA data. August figures for Europe as a whole are not yet available, but German data show 1,441 new registrations (-39% YoY). In the first eight months of 2025, Tesla registered 11,441 vehicles in Germany (-56%). The facelifted Model Y Juniper, delivered to customers since March, has not yet triggered the hoped-for turnaround despite ramping production. Only in a few markets – such as Norway – Tesla continues to perform strongly.

handelsblatt.com, spiegel.de (both in German)

This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition.