Tesla could build 500,000 vehicles per year at its new factory in Germany. Here's how the company's plants compare to others in the car business (TSLA)

• Tesla has several factories in the US, with new ones coming in China and Germany.
• As Tesla expands its manufacturing footprint, I took a closer look at its facilities, as well as at some other factories around the US and the world.
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Tesla currently operates a car factory in the San Francisco Bay Area and two "Gigafactories," near Reno, Nevada, and one in Buffalo, New York, (the latter handles solar panels, the former is manufacturing batteries in partnership with Panasonic). 

Tesla intends to open a fully operational new Gigafactory in Shanghai, China, next year, with a Gigafactory near Berlin to follow.

The proposed Berlin factory could build up to 500,000 vehicles annually, making it a pretty serious operation.

Here's a closer look at Tesla facilities, as well as some notable plants operated by other automakers:

Read more about the Tesla test track.

See Also:

• Shifting Gears: A massive trucking bankruptcy, Tesla gets a string of wins, and a look into the post-car future
• I drove a $70,000 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring to see if this suave SUV could serve up some plug-in hybrid power — here's the verdict
• The redesigned Chevy Suburban was just unveiled — here's a closer look at this 85-year-old icon

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