Terms & Conditions LEGAL NOTICES PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS SITE THIS WEB SITE (THE “SITE”) IS PROVIDED BY GM FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. BY USING THE SITE, OR BY DOWNLOADING MATERIALS FROM THIS SITE, YOU AGREE TO ABIDE AND BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED BELOW AND ELSEWHERE WITHIN… Continue reading @GM: GM Declares Quarterly Dividend DETROIT , Oct. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today declared a fourth quarter 2019 dividend …
Tag: Recalls
@Mazda:November 26, 2019) – Mazda North American Operations has filed a Part 573 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a safety defect
WASHINGTON, DC (November 26, 2019) – Mazda North American Operations has filed a Part 573 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a safety defect, which exists in vehicles equipped with a certain type of passenger frontal air bag inflator, for certain 2009-2012 Mazda6, 2007-2012 CX-7 and 2007-2012 CX-9 vehicles. There are 69,879… Continue reading @Mazda:November 26, 2019) – Mazda North American Operations has filed a Part 573 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a safety defect
AutoProtect Group acquires DealTrak and appoints new CEO
AutoProtect Group has appointed former Aviva managing director Matthew Briggs as its new chief executive after extending its portfolio of services with the acquisition of DealTrak. Owned by Correlation Investments Limited (CIL), AutoProtect Group is a leading provider of insurance and warranty products worldwide, and the re-organisation of CIL’s motor assets in December 2018 saw… Continue reading AutoProtect Group acquires DealTrak and appoints new CEO
@Ford: Ford Motor Company Issues Safety Recall for Select 2019 Ford Ranger Vehicles for Tail Lamp Function
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 25, 2019 – Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety recall for select 2019 Ford Ranger vehicles. In affected vehicles, the inline electrical connector terminals for the tail lamps may be misaligned or not properly seated. Misaligned or improperly seated terminals can result in intermittent or inoperative tail lamps. Intermittent or inoperative… Continue reading @Ford: Ford Motor Company Issues Safety Recall for Select 2019 Ford Ranger Vehicles for Tail Lamp Function
@VW Group: “That’ll Be My Car”
A mild summer breeze carries the sound of traffic on the E6 freeway over to Skedsmokorset. If you drive south, you’ll reach Oslo in twenty-five kilometers. If you head north, you’ll reach the North Cape in about 2,200 kilometers. Erling Henningstad, a fifty-seven-year-old software engineer sporting a neatly trimmed beard and a blue checkered shirt,… Continue reading @VW Group: “That’ll Be My Car”
@BMW: ROLLS-ROYCE BLACK BADGE CULLINAN MAKES CHINA DEBUT
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today showcased the full lineup of the marque’s permanent Bespoke Black Badge family for the first time in China at the OCT Contemporary Art Terminal Shenzhen with the debut of its newest and final member, Black Badge Cullinan – the darkest and most urban statement of Black Badge yet. The debut was accompanied… Continue reading @BMW: ROLLS-ROYCE BLACK BADGE CULLINAN MAKES CHINA DEBUT
@BMW: ROLLS-ROYCE COMPLETES BLACK BADGE FAMILY WITH CULLINAN
Black Badge family defines taste patterns of a new generation of super-luxury consumer Cullinan introduced as darkest, most urban expression of a Black Badge motor car yet First time marque’s proprietary Architecture of Luxury has undergone Black Badge treatment 6.75-litre V12 engine now delivers increased power (600PS) and torque (900NM) Drivetrain and chassis re-engineered for… Continue reading @BMW: ROLLS-ROYCE COMPLETES BLACK BADGE FAMILY WITH CULLINAN
Chinese EV Maker NIO Begins New Round of Layoffs Amid Struggling Sales
Chinese electric vehicle start-up NIO is starting another round of layoff as its car sales have plummeted. Due to challenges of car quality, recalls, and dwindling sales, NIO will lay off 1,200 staff by the end of September. After that, its total number of employees will be around 7,500, Li Bin, founder, chairman and CEO… Continue reading Chinese EV Maker NIO Begins New Round of Layoffs Amid Struggling Sales
Thanks Dubai, bonjour Genéve
The fastest accelerating car accelerates even more Aspark kicked off a new era in full-electric hypercars with the Owl, whose production version was finally unveiled few days ago at Dubai International Motor Show by CEO Masanori Yoshida. A lot of people came to pay a visit to Aspark stand: authorities, media representatives from top international… Continue reading Thanks Dubai, bonjour Genéve
Why Tesla’s Plan To Build Gigafactory 4 In Germany Makes Sense
Invest
Electric Cars
Electric Car Benefits
Electric Car Sales
Solar Energy Rocks
RSS
Advertise
Privacy Policy
Cars
Published on November 22nd, 2019 |
by Johnna Crider
Why Tesla’s Plan To Build Gigafactory 4 In Germany Makes Sense
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
November 22nd, 2019 by Johnna Crider
By Johnna Crider and Zach Shahan
Tesla’s plan to build Gigafactory 4 (GF4) in Germany makes sense if you look at it from the perspective of Tesla’s mission.
Last week, after winning The Golden Steering wheel, Elon Musk made the announcement that Tesla would build its next gigafactory — #4 (even though one of those factories is a solar factory) — in Germany. Not only did the news come as a complete shock to some, but it seemed senseless to others who just don’t understand the mind of Elon Musk, or pretend to not understand it.
The German auto industry has been stagnant with its dependence on gasoline and diesel vehicles. As the world, and especially Europe, has demanded more efficient vehicles that pollute less, the German auto industry has had a hard time transitioning, which is part of the reason there was so much diesel cheating and criminal behavior. However, if one looks at the European auto industry as if it were a plant — an actual plant such as a rose bush — one can see that this market is still alive and breathing. Just because it seems to slow down or stagnate doesn’t mean it’s completely dead. No, it’s sending a message that it needs water. Tesla could very well be the water to bring this market back to life.
Tesla’s presence in Germany is a push to Germany’s large automakers — the country’s largest industry — that it is really, definitely, finally time to electrify. Volkswagen is apparently moving in that direction somewhat aggressively (or still not aggressively enough, depending on who you ask), but many see the transition as too slow. Some have even tried to write wake-up calls for the German auto industry, because of a concern about what will happen to German industry, jobs, and the economy if Germany’s “Big 3” are too slow to electrify. If you are a German and feel this way, Tesla’s decision to build a gigafactory in Germany is a great way to push the industry to try harder and clean up its act faster.
But this story isn’t about what Germans want. It’s about what Tesla wants.
What Is Musk’s Motive?
We have to factor in Tesla’s mission here. As you’ll recall, it’s to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy as quickly as possible. Tesla cannot do that alone, so it must consider how it can most effectively stimulate change in others. Going to their homeland, going to the center of the industry, going to where the sauce is made is the best way to influence the industry.
Furthermore, Tesla does need to keep growing as quickly as possible itself and improving in the process. With the German auto industry’s established high reputation, there must be much to learn there. Tesla didn’t need to set up shop in one of the cities with German automakers were located, but being in the country allows Tesla to tap tremendous labor resources.
So, even as Tesla may be there to push the auto industry to work harder, it’s probably also there to take advantage of the embedded auto expertise of the country.
Why Building GF4 in Germany Makes Sense
I think Tesla building in Germany makes perfect sense. Germany is seen as the heart of the luxury automotive industry, and Tesla is trying to electrify this market as quickly as possible while continuing to go “downstream” and electrify all transport. If you want to solve a problem, go to the heart of the matter.
Lastly, Berlin is one of the most influential political capitals in Europe, and perhaps the world. It is deeply tied to democratic progress and remains the home of one of the strongest democratic centers in the world. Policy can also speed up the transition to EVs, so being near the big players can help to influence them to take bolder actions promoting electric vehicles, clean energy, and more.
Elon may not be very political, but he knows who wields power and is pragmatic about having positive, progressive associations with political leaders to get done what needs to get done.
Plus, it seems that Elon likes Berlin.
Images by CleanTechnica and Tesla Shuttle
Follow CleanTechnica on Google News.
It will make you happy & help you live in peace for the rest of your life.
About the Author
Johnna Crider Johnna Crider is a Baton Rouge artist, gem and mineral collector, and Tesla shareholder who believes in Elon Musk and Tesla. Elon Musk advised her in 2018 to “Believe in Good.”
Tesla is one of many good things to believe in. You can find Johnna on Twitter
Back to Top ↑
Advertisement
Advertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of millions of monthly readers.
Top News On CleanTechnica
CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups
Join CleanTechnica Today!
Listen to CleanTech TalkAdvertisement
Advertisement
Follow CleanTechnica Follow @cleantechnica
Our Electric Car Driver Report
Read & share our new report on “electric car drivers, what they desire, and what they demand.”
The EV Safety Advantage
Read & share our free report on EV safety, “The EV Safety Advantage.”
EV Charging Guidelines for Cities
Share our free report on EV charging guidelines for cities, “Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Guidelines For Cities.”
30 Electric Car Benefits
Our Electric Vehicle Reviews
Tesla News
38 Anti-Cleantech Myths
© 2019 Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc.
Invest
Electric Cars
Electric Car Benefits
Electric Car Sales
Solar Energy Rocks
RSS
Advertise
Privacy Policy
This site uses cookies: Find out more.Okay, thanks