U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla announced on Wednesday that it plans to hire an additional 1,000 employees at its sole European Gigafactory near Berlin and increase weekly production by 20% starting in July, responding to strong market demand for the Model Y.
André Thierig, the plant manager of Tesla's Grünheide facility, stated, "We intend to recruit approximately 1,000 new employees by the end of June, followed by raising weekly output from the current level of around 5,000 vehicles to over 6,000 in July." Additionally, the company plans to convert about 500 temporary workers into permanent employees with indefinite contracts within the year. The factory currently employs approximately 10,700 people, and after the expansion, the workforce will grow to 11,700.
This expansion initiative is driven by a notable rebound in sales. Data shows that in the first quarter of 2026, Tesla's new vehicle registrations in Germany reached 12,829, marking a significant 160% year-over-year increase. Plant manager Thierig highlighted, "Our first-quarter registrations supplied to the market have risen substantially," with the facility delivering a record 61,000 vehicles during the period.
The decision to ramp up production has also provided a significant boost to Tesla's previously stalled factory expansion plans. Brandenburg's Economics Minister Martina Clemens, during a visit to the plant, described the move as a "strong commitment" to the region. Meanwhile, Tesla continues to recruit hundreds of employees for its planned battery cell production facility, scheduled to commence operations in the first half of 2027, aiming to further reduce reliance on external supply chains.
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