Tesla celebrates its Berlin factory, pending construction permits

The festivities may be harassed by residents hostile to the project, which is yet to receive final approval from the authorities.

Operation Temptation in Berlin: Maker Tesla opened its German “huge factory” to the public for an opening ceremony on Saturday, October 9, while the company still hasn’t received a building permit and some residents are protesting the project. On the program: Electro music concerts, Ferris wheel and vegetarian food trucks, for a day that the American group wants to party like the European capital of Berlin. The group’s emblematic owner, Elon Musk, will be present and after two years of construction, several thousand people are expected to walk the aisles of the first European Tesla factory in the future. All invitations to the event were distributed after online registration, leaving many very disappointed with the requests. “Giga Party, we’re coming!”In contrast, on Twitter, one lucky chosen one rejoiced by posting a picture of his precious mole.

When the doors open, at 10 a.m. (8 a.m. GMT), residents can spoil nonetheless: they invite people to demonstrate against the site’s environmental impact. Through these “open doors”, the American manufacturer wants to show its white paws to residents, after months of controversy affecting the site. Tesla has actually benefited from an extraordinary and controversial pre-authorization process that allowed it to begin work in 2019 even before it received a building permit. However, no final approval has been issued by local authorities, who are still assessing the plant’s impact on the environment, even though the work is almost complete.

“No date has been set yet”

This extraordinary regime – and the bizarre situation it creates – has aroused the anger of some residents concerned about the attack on the water resources and biodiversity of the region. Demonstrations, legal action, open letters… Opponents backed by unions have done everything to delay the project. “Tesla will have to go through the same processes as other companies”, recently opposed the Grüne Liga Association. Last year, justice also forced Tesla to suspend its construction site due to the risk of destruction of the natural habitat of protected species of lizards and snakes. A public consultation planned as part of the process of obtaining a permit is open until October 14. Till then, no final authorization should be given, which is required for the plant to start production. “No date has been set yet” To distribute this authorization, AFP assured the Ministry of the Environment of Brandenburg, the area in which the plant is located.

The plant, announced with great fanfare in November 2019, is located in Grünheide on the outskirts of Berlin, and will cover 300 hectares, producing 500,000 electric vehicles per year. Elon Musk also plans to build there “World’s Largest Battery Factory”. The installation should benefit from state-of-the-art technologies, including “The biggest parts molding machine in the world”, notes Ferdinand Dudenhofer, automotive expert and director of the German Institute Center for Automotive Research. “This will significantly reduce production costs and lead to better quality products”, he believes. However, the smell of secrecy surrounds the site where the press is only rarely recruited. But recruiting interviews are well underway, according to multiple accounts, with warnings from unions regarding labor rights and unionization as well.

If no building permit is issued, the group will have to destroy the plant at its own expense. a result calculated “Impossible” Du Raison Du, by Ferdinand Dudenhofer “Political Advocacy” to the project. “All political parties are in favor of it”Experts recall. but “Building Modifications” Can be requested, delay the opening. This, initially scheduled for July, has already been postponed to late 2021/early 2022. there are many shocks “teased” Tesla, according to an open letter from the group published in March, in which he wrote a . had called “Improvement” Authorization process in the country. Despite Germany’s reputation for efficiency, major infrastructure projects are often slowed down by a bureaucracy that is deemed excessive by the economic world.