Tesla Brings European R&D Center to Berlin
Tesla plans to establish its "European Engineering Center" in Berlin Köpenick - © Tesla
Tesla is bringing its European engineering expertise to Berlin with a brand-new development center in Köpenick. Vice-President and Chief Developer Lars Moravy announced the ambitious project at a press conference this Wednesday, marking another milestone for the German capital's tech landscape.
The electric vehicle giant plans to establish its "European Engineering Center" on a spacious industrial site spanning 20,000 square meters of hall space. While Tesla keeps the exact location under wraps, Moravy described it as "an old industrial area with plenty of open space that we need for vehicle development." The site offers significant expansion potential – a key factor in Tesla's decision.
Starting with 130 employees next year, Tesla expects to grow the workforce to 250. The company is investing a substantial double-digit million euro amount in the facility, which will focus primarily on drivetrain technology development.
The location strategy makes perfect sense. Köpenick sits just kilometers from Tesla's Brandenburg "Gigafactory" in Grünheide, creating a powerful innovation corridor. The site also offers excellent rail connections and reliable power supply – crucial infrastructure for Tesla's operations.
Local officials played a key role in securing this win for Berlin. District Mayor Oliver Igel revealed "months of confidential negotiations" helped Köpenick beat out dozens of international locations. Tesla evaluated 36 potential sites before choosing Berlin.
Moravy hinted at exciting collaborations with Berlin universities, potentially creating new opportunities for students and researchers. With regulatory approvals expected "within the next few weeks," construction could begin soon.
This development center adds to Tesla's impressive German footprint. The Brandenburg factory already employs 12,000 people from 150 nations, making it Brandenburg's largest private employer. Since opening, it has produced more than 500,000 Model Y vehicles for 38 countries across Europe and Asia.