Tesla Energy Storage’s Romanian Plant Faces Major Construction Delays

Tesla Energy Storage, part of the Czech Tesla Group and unrelated to Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc., announced ambitious plans in 2022 to build a major battery factory in Romania. The project, worth 450 million lei ($98 million), was supposed to start construction in early 2023 with production commencing within the same year. The factory, intended to employ 200 people, was designed to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, capitalizing on Romania’s strategic location and growing EV market.

Despite these grand plans and 200 million lei ($44 million) in promised state support, the project has faced significant delays. As of mid-2024, construction has not even begun. Dusan Lichardus, chairman of Tesla Group, recently confirmed that while the external architectural plans for the factory are complete, actual building work has not started. No detailed reasons for the delays have been provided, leading to growing concerns among stakeholders and local authorities.

Originally, the Tesla Group's initiative was part of a broader investment into renewable energy in Romania, including 1 GW of solar and wind power and 300 MW of energy storage, all scheduled for completion by 2025. The delays now cast doubt on these timelines, potentially impacting Romania’s renewable energy goals.