Fewer Trees Cut Down, Tesla Can Expand Its Berlin Factory

After presenting a revised expansion plan, Tesla received approval to expand Giga Berlin during a vote by the city council.

A new vote in Grünheide has finally cleared the way for the expansion of Tesla’s Gigafactory in Germany. The city council voted in favor of a significantly modified development plan previously submitted by the company. Eleven members of the public voted for, six voted against, and two abstained. Evidence of the tensions surrounding this project, the vote took place under police protection!

Tesla will clear half as much forest as originally planned, reducing the area from 100 hectares to 50 hectares, in order to expand its facilities to include a freight station and logistics facilities. This will lead to a significant reduction in emissions from freight transport, which currently services Giga Berlin. Furthermore, it will decrease the burden on the roads around the factory, thus reducing the number of cars on them. Despite this, activists are not letting up the pressure on the automaker!

Tesla and Elon Musk as the bogeymen of environmentalists

Under the guise of environmental protection, they have been protesting against Tesla’s expansion project since day one. Meanwhile, giants of internal combustion engine car production such as Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, and others continue their operations without hindrance… go figure.

This vote by the residents of Grünheide on Tesla’s expansion plans is not binding anyway, but it gives legitimacy to the project. Tesla and the municipality wished to develop in collaboration with the residents.

Following the sabotage experienced by the factory and recent outbreaks of violence near the site, new disturbances are unfortunately to be feared. Vox Populi, Vos Dei, but not for everyone.