The car manufacturer Tesla can expand its premises – according to the vote of the community representatives in Grünheide. But the situation remains tense for Elon Musk’s company. New protests are also imminent.
The planned expansion of the electric car manufacturer Tesla’s factory site in Grünheide near Berlin remains controversial even after the approval of the local council. The Brandenburg state government expressed its joy, but environmental activists spoke of it as a bitter blow.
“The protest is becoming stronger than ever,” announced the “Turn off the tap to Tesla” alliance. Tesla opponents also don’t want to give up a camp with tree houses in the forest next to the factory.
The situation is likely to remain tense for Elon Musk’s company not only because of the protests. The planned worldwide job cuts in view of the slump in the market for electric cars also affects Grünheide. Hundreds of jobs are to be lost in the only European Tesla factory.
Environmentalists warn
Under police protection, the community representatives of Grünheide decided on a development plan that clears the way for a Tesla expansion. The car manufacturer wants to expand its premises to include a freight station and logistics areas.
The climate during the local council meeting was heated. Among other things, environmentalists see dangers for drinking water and are fighting against deforestation. The factory is partly located in a water protection area.
The company said it was pleased with the approval of the local council and said: “The development plan that has now been approved addresses the concerns of the community in key points.” With the changed planning, more than 70 hectares of forest would be preserved. “To do this, Tesla had to forego projects that were originally planned as part of the expansion.” This refers to previously planned social facilities such as a daycare center and other storage areas that are now no longer available.
The US car manufacturer has been producing electric cars in the community of 9,200 residents southeast of Berlin for around two years. Around 12,000 employees work in the factory.
Economics Minister: Strong signal for development
Brandenburg’s Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (SPD) said of the local council’s decision: “For me, this is a strong signal for the future development of Grünheide and Tesla.” In view of the demonstrations and sometimes violent protests, the community representatives were under great pressure and certainly did not make their vote easy. “I am convinced that your decision is in the interests of your community,” said Steinbach.
Grünheide’s mayor Arne Christiani (independent) was satisfied and said that the decision was important because “all infrastructure measures, i.e. the station forecourt, country road, railway crossing and connection to the motorway” were guaranteed. According to Christiani, some of these accompanying community infrastructure projects must be implemented by the end of 2026 at the latest. The development plan for the factory is now going into the district’s approval phase and then “the building rights are there,” he explained.
The mayor is calm about a possible lawsuit from opponents of expansion: “So far, the courts have acted fairly quickly in all proceedings in this context.”
Environmental alliance calls decision a catastrophe
The “Turn Off the Tap to Tesla” alliance, however, announced that it would continue to mobilize against a Tesla expansion. “Today’s decision is a catastrophe: a car factory that is already endangering the drinking water of people in Brandenburg and Berlin is to be expanded,” criticized the environmental group.
Politics puts Tesla’s profits above drinking water protection. That is why the protest against the implementation of the expansion is more important than ever. “Our protest for water justice will now become even stronger,” said the alliance’s spokeswoman. Associations also want to sue.
Following a court decision, Tesla opponents do not have to vacate a protest camp with tree houses set up on the edge of the factory at the end of February. Last week, hundreds of people protested in Grünheide. There were sometimes violent clashes between demonstrators and the police. Environmental activists had tried to get onto the Tesla factory site.
Source: Stern
