Tesla Commits $250M to Expand 4680 Cell Production at Giga Berlin to 18 GWh

Tesla announced a $250 million additional investment in 4680 cylindrical battery cell production at its Grünheide, Germany gigafactory on May 12, 2026 — more than doubling the previously announced 8 GWh cell capacity target to 18 GWh and creating approximately 1,500 additional jobs. Total site investment in cell production now approaches €1 billion, making Giga Berlin one of Tesla's most cell-manufacturing-intensive European sites. The expansion comes as Giga Berlin also marked the production of its 750,000th vehicle on May 11. The 18 GWh target, once achieved, would supply cells for approximately 200,000–250,000 Model Y vehicles annually — significantly reducing Tesla's dependency on imported cells from Panasonic and CATL for its European fleet. The investment is also a signal of Tesla's confidence in the 4680 cell's improving economics and yields at Giga Texas, and its willingness to replicate that manufacturing model in Europe. The 4680 cells produced at Berlin will power European-market vehicles with the structural battery pack, reducing shipping costs and exposure to evolving EU battery content regulations under the EU Battery Regulation framework.