Tesla has proposed an expansion of its gigafactory in Germany and has been met with protests from activists.
Tesla has once again been involved in incidents, in this case at the German gigafactory, the largest brand assembly plant in Europe. Elon Musk's company proposed an expansion of the factory that will allow it to increase its production and environmental activists have started protests by setting up camps around the plant.
Activists began moving towards the outskirts of Berlin on Wednesday night and have set up temporary structures around the forest surrounding the factory. The purpose is to make it difficult for the construction company in charge of the work to cut down trees. The group is led by Robin Wood, who claims that he speaks on behalf of the residents near the plant, reports AFP.
The protests go beyond the cutting down of a few hundred trees. Activists claim that this area is an area for water protection and that the Tesla factory is stealing resources from the local population. The region has experienced several droughts in recent summers, but the plant has been working at maximum capacity, causing concern among Germans.
The gigafactory located on the outskirts of Berlin has been operational since 2022 and is one of the most important manufacturing centers for the Tesla Model Y. The brand now plans to build a charging station, its central warehouses and a daycare center for the company's employees.
Residents have voted on the expansion of the factory
The residents of the area have carried out a non-binding vote to find out the opinion of the population who lives near the factory. More than 60% of residents have voted against allowing the American manufacturer to expand its facilities, Car Scoop has reported.
The vote is not binding, at least in legal terms, but it can influence the final result. The decision to approve or reject the Tesla factory expansion project will now go to the Grünheide municipal council. Arne Christiani, mayor of the town, has stated that local representatives will not oppose citizens giving their opinion or voting when the time comes.
Activists and citizens of Grünheide could thwart plans to expand the Berlin gigafactory. The Tesla project puts the quality of drinking water in nearby towns at risk, they say.