The electric car manufacturer Tesla promoted the planned expansion of the site to local residents at an event at its factory in Grünheide near Berlin on Sunday. Numerous interlocutors, including representatives from Tesla, Deutsche Bahn, the municipality of Grünheide and the Oder-Spree district, provided information about the development plans and infrastructure projects in connection with the project. The community representatives’ decision on the development plan is still pending. A resident survey starts this Monday. There are protests against the plans. Environmental groups and citizens’ initiatives believe the expansion is not necessary and have called for people to vote against it.
Tesla wants to build a freight station, warehouses and a daycare center on an area next to the factory premises. Over 100 hectares of forest will be cleared for the expansion. The company sees a significant benefit for the region if the development plan for the expansion were approved. For example, freight traffic would be relieved if a works station were built.
The development plan means “even more clearing, even more sealing, even more dangers to our water supply, even more construction sites and truck traffic in our community,” criticized Manu Hoyer from the Grünheide citizens’ initiative. The company is not even close to using its current production capacities. In addition, the expansion of the site is not necessary to shift traffic; the freight station was already approved in the last development plan. The “Turn off the tap from Tesla” alliance wants to use information materials, posters and “doorstep discussions” to promote a no to expansion in the coming weeks.
“For the first time, we residents have the opportunity to give our opinion on Tesla’s plans. We call on all residents of our community to vote for a livable Grünheide and against the development plan,” said Hoyer, according to the statement. According to Mayor Arne Christiani (independent), the municipality of Grünheide has received over 60 objections so far.
In addition to the planned expansion of the site, Tesla is aiming to expand the factory on the existing site. The company has already acquired 300 hectares for this purpose. The car manufacturer wants to double production from the planned 500,000 cars per year to one million per year. According to its own information, the company currently produces more than 250,000 vehicles annually.