Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory has released the environmental assessment report for the initial project of its new model, which means that the pre-production preparations for the China-made Model Y will begin soon.

The Beijing News cited the environmental assessment report as saying that the project will be carried out in the existing plant to conduct tests and research related to the start-up of the new model, including tests on important equipment and production processes, verification of product dimensions and matching of component functions.

The main equipment involved includes test presses, welding-related equipment, paint-related equipment, assembly-related equipment and quality equipment.

Tesla also recently released a recruitment announcement for the new Gigafactory project in Shanghai, including the motor shop, die-casting shop, final assembly shop, logistics department, and supercharging stations, hiring a total of nearly 1,000 people for positions such as technicians, shift supervisors, and operators.

Tesla mentioned in its environmental assessment report that the new model first started the project to meet experiments in localizing foreign processes, mainly in view of the fact that the new model uses an integrally formed aluminum base plate to replace the stamping and welding of about 50 or so parts of traditional vehicles.

The integrally molded base plate is the first in the world to reduce the number of welding joints and glue application (the exact number was not announced) compared to a traditional stamping and welding shop, the report said.

In addition, the introduction of a new model requires a model startup phase, which requires a certain commissioning period based on the early Model 3 and the commissioning of key equipment in North America.

According to the environmental assessment report, the planning and environmental assessment of the new model project has been carried out and reviewed by the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau, and the construction period is expected to be six months, with completion in March 2021.

The project is located in the southeast side of the Gigafactory Phase I site in Shanghai, and no new land will be added.

Based on the experience of the first phase of Shanghai Gigafactory, the project will optimize and refine the design of production processes and environmental protection facilities.

Latest aerial images show that most of the main building of the Shanghai Gigafactory for the Model Y has been completed, and Tesla China's official website has also opened up options for the SUV, with prices starting at RMB 488,000, and production is expected to begin as soon as 2021.