Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory Gets a High‑Tech Graffiti Makeover
In 2023, just after the Berlin Gigafactory opened, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced a bold vision: “cover all the concrete with art.” This week the automaker revealed a fresh video that shows the factory’s exterior adorned with vibrant graffiti — a large portion of which was sprayed by a robot painter.
How the Project Began
Vincent Krause, the design lead at Gigafactory Berlin, explained that the initiative started with local graffiti artists working on the concrete surfaces. Krause wanted the art to reflect Tesla’s innovative production methods, so he brought in a “robot muralist” to finish the job.
Meet the Robot Muralist
- A powerful computer and software translate artists’ ideas into digital designs ready for printing.
- A large graffiti printer crawls up and down the walls, applying the final artwork.
- The contraption consists of two parts: a print head that holds up to 12 cans of paint and a lifting mechanism that uses kevlar cables.
- Two small propellers give the robot a gentle push toward the wall as it sprays millions of paint dots.
In the video, Mihkel Joala explains the system’s components and how it brings the graphics to life.
Inspirations and Future Plans
Krause said the collection of designs comes from artists worldwide as well as in‑house creations. “We take a lot of inspiration from Berlin and also from Tesla’s products and the factory itself,” he noted. “All of the artworks incorporate different aspects of the local spirit, and there’s still so much left to do. We’re far from finished.”
Context of the Gigafactory
Berlin’s Gigafactory is Tesla’s first full‑scale production facility in Europe. When it opened three years ago, it marked a major milestone for the automaker’s expansion into the European market. The factory produces Model Y vehicles and, after delays due to administrative and environmental approvals, finally received final approval in March 2022 before opening later that month.
