Tesla will shut down its plant near Berlin as protesters plan to gather outside to demonstrate against the company’s planned expansion. The production lines will be stopped on Friday, a day that would normally serve as a bridge between a public holiday in Germany and the weekend. This decision was made in anticipation of the protests, with all employees being asked to stay home on that day.
The protests are in response to Elon Musk’s plans to double the production capacity of Tesla’s only factory in Europe. Disrupt, a coalition of anti-capitalist protest groups, argues that the expansion would involve clearing parts of the surrounding forest and further strain the local water supply. The protests are expected to last for four days, starting on Wednesday, and could potentially disrupt the operations at the plant.
Police in the German state of Brandenburg, where the plant is located, have prepared for extensive operations in response to the protests. They have warned that both peaceful and non-peaceful outcomes are possible, and have stated their intention to intervene resolutely if crimes are committed. The plant, capable of producing over 375,000 electric cars per year, is a key element of Tesla’s global operations.
Disrupt argues that electric cars are not the solution to reducing carbon emissions, citing the significant environmental footprint associated with their production. They highlight the environmental damage caused by the mining of lithium, a key metal in EV batteries. Tesla has announced that there will be no public transportation running to and from the factory between Thursday and Sunday due to the anticipated protests.
This is not the first time that protesters have disrupted operations at the plant. In early March, a group of far-left activists claimed responsibility for an arson attack on a high-voltage electricity pylon supplying power to the factory. The incident led to the plant being closed for a week. The activists, known as the “Volcano Group,” stated that they targeted the plant because they believe it consumes resources and harms the environment. Tesla and Disrupt have not yet responded to requests for comment on the upcoming protests.