2024-05-11 04:54:50
Eco-activists opposing Tesla’s plans to expand its so-called gigafactory in Germany, which is located outside Berlin, today tried to break into the factory of the American electric car manufacturer. This was reported by CBS, citing a statement from law enforcement in the German state of Brandenburg.
“Multiple unauthorized persons are trying to enter the Tesla factory,” the police in Brandenburg announced via a post on the X social network.
“We are in the process of preventing these actions,” law enforcement officials said.
“The situation is dynamic,” a Brandenburg police spokesman told CNN. He noted that a number of roads in the area were blocked due to the protests.
Activists have organized an impromptu camp near the Tesla factory. They have held a demonstration near the Tesla factory, as well as a protest march in the area of their camp.
The protesters also occupied the nearby airport, located in the municipality of Neuhardenberg, local police noted.
Law enforcement agencies intervened, which led to a number of arrests, as well as cases of use of force, writes BTA.
On Wednesday, May 8, CNN reported that Tesla had asked its employees to be absent from their jobs at the factory today because of expected protests.
Andre Thirig, the factory’s senior director in charge of production, confirmed today’s “one-day planned production shutdown”.
The American company, led by entrepreneur Elon Musk, plans to expand its production base in Germany through projects to build a rail freight depot and storage facilities. These facilities are expected to help it avoid its dependence on other suppliers, experts said.
Local residents in February voted against the planned expansion of the factory. “Tesla” and the local authorities, however, do not give up on it, since the vote is not binding, according to CBS.