Tesla (TSLA) shares advanced after the electric vehicle (EV) giant outlined plans to expand its German gigafactory into what could become Europe's largest car plant.

The company filed applications with local officials to make major modifications to the facility near Berlin, including building a battery testing lab and adding more water recycling. 

Tesla indica🥂ted it would like to boost the number of cars manufactured at the plant to 1 million per year, up from about a quarter of a million now, and double battery production to 100-gigawatt hours annually. 

The company added that employment at the factory coul🍨d jump from 🉐around 10,000 to possibly 22,500. 

The expansion has faced pඣushback from many local residents, who have expressed concern about the possible environmental impact, especially wa🔯ter usage. They have until mid-September to file objections to the proposal. 

Shares of Tesla traded at a 10-month high and were up 1.5% in early trading on Wednesday morning following the news.