The Tesla Berlin factory production was halted due to a power outage that may have been caused by an environmental group. Tesla’s halt in production was after power lines supplying the plant were set on fire in an act of “sabotage” claimed by a far-left group.
Emergency services were called early on Tuesday after reports of a burning electricity pylon southeast of Berlin close to the Tesla factory.
Tesla Berlin factory power outage
The halt was due to a fire, suspected of being arson, in an area near the Tesla’s Berlin factory. Left-wing extremists called the Volcano Group claimed responsibility, citing the damage from “killer cars and monster trucks.”
Tesla’s factory has not been damaged, the police said. Police said they have launched an investigation into suspected arson. Tesla said none of its employees were injured in what it called a reckless attack.
Environmental concerns
The sabotage of Tesla’s German factory by the far-left group, the Volcano Group, underscores the tension between environmental concerns and the expansion of industrial facilities.
Recently, environmental activists have been protesting in a state forest near the Tesla factory, which the automaker wants to clear to expand the site. That expansion was mentioned in the group’s letter, along with a broader critique of what it called green capitalism.
Why power outage at Tesla?
The power outage came as environmental activists have been protesting in a forest near the plant against plans by Tesla to expand. Dozens of activists have put up tents and built treehouses.
“With our sabotage, we have set ourselves the goal of achieving the biggest possible blackout of the Gigafactory,” the group said in a statement.
The group highlighted concerns about the environmental impact of the plant and its effect on the local water supply.
“We feel connected to all the people who won’t let Tesla turn the tap off,” the group said.
Musk on power outage
CEO Elon Musk criticized the move. “These are either the dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth or they’re puppets of those who don’t have good environmental goals,” he said. “Stopping production of electric vehicles, rather than fossil fuel vehicles, ist extrem dumm.”
Tesla shares
Tesla shares (TSLA) fell 3% in early trade. The automaker’s stock has dived by 24% this year.Tesla’s stock-market swoon has resulted in Musk no longer being the world’s richest person.
Outage affected villages
The blaze was extinguished, but damage to the lines knocked out power to the electric car factory, located in the state of Brandenburg, as well as surrounding villages. The outage also left about 2,000 households without power.
Electricity was restored after a few hours in the nearby towns and villages, but Tesla remained without energy and authorities said it would likely take several days to restore it at the plant. Tesla said it would resume production as soon as possible.
Tesla’s expansion plan
Tesla opened the factory in March 2022, launching a challenge to German automakers on their home turf.
The company wants to expand the facility to add a freight depot, warehouses and a company kindergarten. Those plans would entail felling more than 100 hectares (247 acres) of forest.
On going conflict between environmental activism and industrial development
Tesla’s factory represents technological innovation in the form of electric vehicles, which are seen as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuel vehicles. However, the expansion plans for the factory involve clearing a significant portion of forested land. This raises concerns about habitat destruction and environmental impact.
The actions taken by the extremist groups highlights the extreme measures some environmental activists are willing to take to oppose industrial development they perceive as harmful to the environment. This incident brings attention to the ongoing debate over how to balance the need for economic growth and technological advancement with the preservation of natural resources and environmental sustainability.
