Tesla, the US electric car company founded by Elon Musk, was supposed to start producing the first cars in Germany last month, but some red tape and legal steps by environmental groups have slowed the opening and startup. of the establishment. The € 4 billion initiative has the support of local and national politicians from major parties – including the Greens – and is not considered at risk, but environmentalists report being left alone to report the impact the new factory is making. having on the environment.
In 2019 Musk had announced plans to build a plant in Grünheide, not far from Berlin, as a necessary step to start producing Tesla for the European market directly in Europe, reducing costs and waiting times for customers. The proposal was welcomed by the politicians of Brandenburg and by the federal ones, because it gave the possibility not only to create up to 12,000 new jobs, but also to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles in Germany, with repercussions on the market. '' cars for some of the largest car manufacturers in the country.
At the beginning of 2020 Tesla had started the first works to deforest the area where the factory was to be built, however facing numerous legal initiatives launched by environmental groups to hinder the new construction. Lawsuits were initiated due to the removal of part of a forest, then due to the need to protect some animal species, including reptiles and insects.
Despite the difficulties, the construction of the plant has continued and according to Musk is now almost complete, to the point that he claims that the first cars could leave the factory in October. However, not everyone is convinced that production can start so early, and Musk is known for making very optimistic forecasts on timing, which his companies are not always able to respect.
Last May, some problems in the safety of the construction site and a sabotage of the power lines, carried out by a group of the extreme left (Vulkangruppe), had further slowed the construction of the factory.
In recent months, environmental associations have also reported that Tesla is building on an area where there is an aquifer, which the same company intends to use for its production activities with an estimated consumption of 1.4 million cubic meters per year. . According to some hypotheses, the aquifer could be affected and so also the neighboring areas, which in recent years have had problems of drought. Environmentalists also say the factory could contaminate groundwater, although Tesla has ensured that it will take all necessary measures, and required by regulations, to reduce this risk as much as possible.
The issue of the Tesla factory is much discussed in Grünheide and has led to a certain polarization: on the one hand there are those who argue that it is a fundamental resource for the local economy and employment, while on the other there are those who fears its impact on the environment. After the presentation of the latest plans for the construction of the plant, the Ministry of the Environment of Brandenburg received about 250 complaints. The company has not yet received a final permit and is therefore finishing the construction of the factory at its own risk.
However, analysts believe that it is unlikely that Tesla will not receive the necessary authorizations to start operations once the works are finished. The issue was also addressed during the election campaign for the German federal elections, which will be held on September 26th. The main candidates for the chancellery (outgoing chancellor Angela Merkel did not reapply) have given their support and defined the launch of Tesla's activities in Europe as important for the entire car sector, with the producers of the more traditional engines a outbreak that are supporting a difficult transition to electric motors.
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