Tesla evacuated employees from part of its sole GigaBerlin factory in Germany, after a fire broke out in a battery-pack production unit, local media outlet Handelsblatt reported on Thursday.
The incident occurred Monday when several battery cells fell from a conveyor belt on the first floor down a shaft to the ground level, sparking a localized fire in the transport system, the newspaper said, citing the Oder-Spree district administration.
The blaze produced extreme heat, escaping gases and a strong odor, leading Tesla to restrict access to the building. The evacuation has been in place since Monday, August 18.
The report said access to the building, which also contains the Drive Unit division, was restricted to the plant’s fire brigade and cleaning crews wearing full protective suits and respirator masks.
There were no injuries or environmental damages from the incident.
It took several hours to extinguish the fire, which was confined to the affected cells, according to the report, with Tesla’s internal investigation now ongoing.
Earlier this year, when the company was ramping up production of the refreshed Model Y, the plant manager André Thierig ruled out any production stoppages, staff reductions, or short-time work.
The ramp-up began in mid-January,when Tesla started mass production of the world’s best-selling vehicle in 2023 across four of its Gigafactories worldwide.
