The US electric car manufacturer Tesla wants to expand its production in Grünheide near Berlin. The next expansion stage is currently being prepared on the existing site in order to increase capacity, the company said on Friday.
For this purpose, 70 hectares of pine forest would be cleared from this Friday. The permit for clearing has already been obtained. Tesla is preparing an application for the expansion. This also requires a new environmental law procedure. The “Märkische Oderzeitung” (online) had previously reported about it.
Forest is cleared again
According to Tesla, it currently employs more than 7,000 people. Later there will be 12,000 employees, with the expansion there would be even more. It was initially unclear how extensive the expansion would be. Tesla spoke of additional production capacity in the northern part of the site.
Production in Grünheide in Brandenburg officially started in March. The company currently produces around 2000 cars a week in its only factory in Europe. This corresponds to about one fifth of the target in the first expansion phase. Conservationists warn of the factory’s negative impact on the environment, but Tesla rejects these concerns.
Tesla is clearing forest again for the expansion in order to have space for the construction site of the planned expansion stage, but also for the centralization of the construction site infrastructure. The trees would be cleared on the basis of the previous development plan. All necessary forest and species protection measures have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. So far, 300 hectares of mixed forest have been reforested. An extension of the area, for example for a freight station, is planned at the same time, but this requires a new development plan.
The prime minister is happy
The Brandenburg state government sees the expansion plans as confirmation of the choice of location. “With the announcement of the next expansion stage of the car factory, Tesla is clearly committed to the Brandenburg location,” said Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) on Friday. “That’s why I’m happy about the news.”
Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (SPD) spoke of a good sign. “Brandenburg is developing more and more into an important location for the modern automotive industry in Germany, and Tesla, as the largest industrial employer and trainer in Brandenburg, has played a decisive role in this.”
On the other hand, the Association for Nature leaned against it
In September it became known that Tesla had previously been manufacturing in Grünheide without a functioning fire alarm system. According to Tesla, it is working on it. The district of Oder-Spree considers fire protection to be secured with a preliminary concept.
