Tesla is establishing a new European development centre in the Köpenick district of Berlin, marking a strategic expansion of its research and development operations in Germany. The site will focus on material research as well as vehicle and drive development, with plans that have been in consideration since the company first announced its Berlin Gigafactory.
The new centre will occupy a renovated factory complex spanning approximately 20,000 square metres. According to Tesla executive Lars Moravy, who oversees the company’s development division, the location was chosen due to its “generous space, strong energy supply – and the location between Berlin and Grünheide,” the latter being the site of Tesla’s main European production facility. Initial technical testing could begin later this year, though full operations are expected in early 2026 once permits for the conversion are granted.
Tesla plans to relocate around 130 engineers to the Köpenick site initially, with staffing expected to increase to approximately 250 in the coming years. Engineers will focus on material research, vehicle design, and drive development. Moravy did not disclose additional technical details about the projects planned for the centre.
The move underscores Germany’s continued importance to Tesla’s European operations. The country is home to roughly one-fifth of Tesla’s global development workforce, including Tesla Grohmann Automation in Prüm. German teams have played a significant role in updates to the premium Model S and Model X, Moravy noted.
The announcement comes amid a challenging period for Tesla in Europe. July EU sales fell 42% year-on-year to approximately 6,600 vehicles, while German registrations dropped 39% to 1,441. In the first eight months of 2025, Tesla registered 11,441 vehicles in Germany, down 56% from the previous year. The recent launch of the facelifted Model Y Juniper has yet to reverse the decline, although Tesla continues to see stronger performance in select markets, including Norway.
Source: handelsblatt.com, spiegel.de
