According to Electrive, production was supposed to start last year in July, but the factory was not yet completed at the time and the permits weren't ready either.

Another reason for the delay was Tesla's decision to include a battery factory as well in the plant, which required more work and permits.

Tesla is currently building about 2.000 Model Ys at the Grünheide factory on the basis of a pre-approval, but it can't sell them, since this is just a performance test.

Earlier information suggests that it might take a few more weeks before the American manufacturer is able to provide evidence of the performance of the factory, after which it will be granted the approval for the operating permit.

Taggespiegel reports that the opening of the factory should take place on March 22, when Elon Musk will come in person to open the plant.

Tesla themselves confirmed back in January that the first Model Y Performance produced in Grünheide will be delivered in March.

Tesla started working on the Giga Berlin plant back in the fall of 2019 and built it on a preliminary permit basis since, with the risk of needing to do everything again in the case of a negative decision regarding the new Tesla factory in Europe.