According to media reports, the environmental authority in Brandenburg, Germany, has approved Tesla's application to expand its factory in Gruenheide, removing an obstacle for the company's development plans.
The authorities stated that the approval initially allows Tesla to set up an asphalt-paved logistics area within the factory and to establish a staircase and a security gate in its press shop. Tesla did not immediately comment on the news.
Tesla plans to double the factory's capacity, aiming to reach an annual battery production capacity of 100 GWh and an annual vehicle production capacity of 1 million units, striving for dominance in the European electric vehicle market.
However, environmentalists and local groups are concerned that the factory's expansion will jeopardize the area's water supply, as the factory is located within a drinking water protection zone.
In May of this year, protesters opposing the expansion clashed with local police, with some attempting to storm the factory. According to the protest organizers "Disrupt Tesla," about 800 people participated in the protest. The organization claims that the expansion of Tesla's factory will cause environmental damage to the local area.
Previously, members of the Gruenheide council held a meeting under police protection, where demonstrators outside held posters with slogans such as "People over profit" and "Turn off Tesla's tap."
