The power supply for Tesla Giga Berlin-Brandenburg has been restored. The restoration of the Grünheide-based Model Y factory’s power came about a week after a suspected arson attack at a power pylon. The attack was claimed by the “Vulcan Group,” an anti-Tesla entity.
The alleged arson did not just take out Giga Berlin’s power. It also caused power outages in thousands of households across several districts. Due to the attack, some facilities in the Freienbrink industrial area were forced to stop their operations. Hospitals and medical operations in the area were also adversely affected.
But while the attack did stop Giga Berlin, it would appear that the repairs were completed faster than initial estimates from both Tesla and the local grid operator, E.DIS. In a comment to BZ, E.DIS noted that the power to Giga Berlin was restored Monday evening. “The supply has since been restored,” the energy supplier noted.
Tesla reportedly confirmed Giga Berlin’s power shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday. “The first lights are on. The power supply has been restored. We are now checking and then slowly switching on,” the electric vehicle maker reportedly noted.
Tesla Giga Berlin-Brandenburg Manufacturing Senior Director Andre Thierig shared the milestone on LinkedIn. As per the executive, Tesla is now working hard to resume the facility’s operations. And while it may take some time before Giga Berlin-Brandenburg is fully back to business, the facility has taken a big step forward by getting its power back.
“The power supply to the Gigafactory has been restored for a few minutes now. The measures to restart production are now running at full speed under all safety precautions. It will certainly take some time before we have fully resumed production, but the most important step has been taken! Power ON. Many thanks to E.DIS for the quick restart and to all those involved and especially our employees for their support over the last few days,” Thierig wrote in a LinkedIn post.
E.DIS managing director Alexander Montebaur celebrated the power restoration in a LinkedIn post.
“After a weekend of intensive work around the clock and numerous crucial repairs – on what is now probably Germany’s best-known construction site – extensive high-voltage measurements lasting several hours took place today in high-voltage measurements took place today in Steinfurt near Freienbrink.
Der GF von #Gigafactory Grünheide, @AndrThie , hat vor weniger als 1h diese Nachricht auf LinkedIn gepostet! Danke an @EDIS_AG! Super Job! Und nun toi toi toi beim re-start! #LightsOn @Tesla pic.twitter.com/md5wv3T3ER— Jörg Steinbach (@joergstb) March 11, 2024
“Certified test engineers spent a total of 4 hours testing the interaction of all high-voltage components on the construction site near Steinfurt in a very complex procedure under high voltage – and thus under real conditions. The key feature of the test procedure is the generation of a voltage level directly on the construction site – and at a level that exceeds the actual operating voltage of 110,000 volts.
“The necessary voltage was generated by a so-called resonance generator, which was delivered to the construction site by articulated lorry. To the great delight of the E.DIS grid experts, who had been working flat out for almost a week, the test engineers gave the green light. And that means: Tesla and Edeka’s GVZ are supplied again. A milestone on the way to complete repair of the damaged 110 kv pylon,” Montebaur wrote.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
News
Tesla is making two big upgrades to the Model 3, coding shows
According to coding found in the European and Chinese configurators, Tesla is planning to make two big upgrades: Black Headliner offerings and a new 16-inch QHD display, similar to that on the Model Y Performance.
Tesla is making two big upgrades to the Model 3, one of which is widely requested by owners and fans, and another that it has already started to make on some trim levels of other models within the lineup.
The changes appear to be taking effect in the European and Chinese markets, but these are expected to come to the United States based on what Tesla has done with the Model Y.
According to coding found in the European and Chinese configurators, Tesla is planning to make two big upgrades: Black Headliner offerings and a new 16-inch QHD display, similar to that on the Model Y Performance.
These changes in the coding were spotted by X user BERKANT, who shared the findings on the social media platform this morning:
🚨 Model 3 changes spotted in Tesla backend
• New interior code: IN3PB (Interior 3 Premium Black)
• Linked to Alcantara-style black headliner
• Mapped to 2026 Model 3 Performance and Premium VINs• EPC now shows: “Display_16_QHD”
• Multiple 2026 builds marked with… pic.twitter.com/OkDM5EdbTu— BERKANT (@Tesla_NL_TR) February 23, 2026
It appears these new upgrades will roll out with the Model 3 Performance and Tesla’s Premium trim levels of the all-electric sedan.
The changes are welcome. Tesla fans have been requesting that its Model 3 and Model Y offerings receive a black headliner, as even with the black interior options, the headliner is grey.
Tesla recently upgraded Model Y vehicles to this black headliner option, even in the United States, so it seems as if the Model 3 will get the same treatment as it appears to be getting in the Eastern hemisphere.
Tesla has been basically accentuating the Model 3 and Model Y with small upgrades that owners have been wanting, and it has been a focal point of the company’s future plans as it phases out other vehicles like the Model S and Model X.
Additionally, Tesla offered an excellent 0.99% APR last week on the Model 3, hoping to push more units out the door to support a strong Q1 delivery figure at the beginning of April.
Elon Musk
SpaceX secures FAA approval for 44 annual Starship launches in Florida
The FAA’s environmental review covers up to 44 launches annually, along with 44 Super Heavy booster landings and 44 upper-stage landings.
SpaceX has received environmental approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct up to 44 Starship-Super Heavy launches per year from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A in Florida.
The decision allows the company to proceed with plans tied to its next-generation launch system and future satellite deployments.
The FAA’s environmental review covers up to 44 launches annually, along with 44 Super Heavy booster landings and 44 upper-stage landings. The approval concludes the agency’s public comment period and outlines required mitigation measures related to noise, emissions, wildlife, and airspace management.
Construction of Starship infrastructure at Launch Complex 39A is nearing completion. The site, previously used for Apollo and space shuttle missions, is transitioning to support Starship operations, as noted in a Florida Today report.
If fully deployed across Kennedy Space Center and nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Starship activity on the Space Coast could exceed 120 launches annually, excluding tests. Separately, the U.S. Air Force has authorized repurposing Space Launch Complex 37 for potential additional Starship activity, pending further FAA airspace analysis.
The approval supports SpaceX’s long-term strategy, which includes deploying a large constellation of satellites intended to power space-based artificial intelligence data infrastructure. The company has previously indicated that expanded Starship capacity will be central to that effort.
The FAA review identified likely impacts from increased noise, nitrogen oxide emissions, and temporary airspace closures. Commercial flights may experience periodic delays during launch windows. The agency, however, determined these effects would be intermittent and manageable through scheduling, public notification, and worker safety protocols.
Wildlife protections are required under the approval, Florida Today noted. These include lighting controls to protect sea turtles, seasonal monitoring of scrub jays and beach mice, and restrictions on offshore landings to avoid coral reefs and right whale critical habitat. Recovery vessels must also carry trained observers to prevent collisions with protected marine species.
Elon Musk
Texas township wants The Boring Company to build it a Loop system
The township’s board unanimously approved an application to The Boring Company’s “Tunnel Vision Challenge.”
The Woodlands Township, Texas, has formally entered The Boring Company’s tunneling sweepstakes.
The township’s board unanimously approved an application to The Boring Company’s “Tunnel Vision Challenge,” which offers up to one mile of tunnel construction at no cost to a selected community.
The Woodlands’ proposal, dubbed “The Current,” features two parallel 12-foot-diameter tunnels beneath the Town Center corridor near The Waterway. Teslas would shuttle passengers between Waterway Square, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Town Green Park and nearby hotels during concerts and large-scale events, as noted in a Chron report.
Township officials framed the tunnel as a solution for the township’s traffic congestion issues. The Pavilion alone hosts more than 60 shows each year and can accommodate crowds of up to 16,500, often straining Lake Robbins Drive and surrounding intersections.
“We know we have traffic impacts and pedestrian movement challenges, especially in the Town Center area,” Chris Nunes, chief operating officer of The Woodlands Township, stated during the meeting.
“The Current” mirrors the Loop system operating beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center, where Tesla vehicles transport passengers through underground tunnels between venues and resorts.
The Boring Company issued its request for proposals (RFP) in mid-January, inviting cities and districts to pitch local uses for its tunneling technology. The Woodlands must submit its application by Feb. 23, though no timeline has been provided for when a winning community will be announced.
Nunes confirmed that the board has authorized a submission for “The Current’s” proposal, though he emphasized that the project is still in its preliminary stages.
“The Woodlands Township Board of Directors has authorized staff to submit an application to The Boring Company, which has issued an RFP for communities interested in leveraging their technology to address community challenges,” he said in a statement.
“The Board believes that an underground tunnel would provide a safe and efficient means to transport people to and from various high-use community amenities in our Town Center.”
Tesla is making two big upgrades to the Model 3, coding shows
SpaceX secures FAA approval for 44 annual Starship launches in Florida
