Musk's Tesla Gigafactory was attacked by dozens of masked protesters

People who run after big things

2024-05-10 21:09Posted in Hebei International Creators

An unprecedented shock shook Elon Musk's Tesla Gigafactory in Germany, with dozens of masked protesters forcing their way through a police cordon and breaking into the high-tech manufacturing fortress in the heart of Germany. This incident marks another major test that Tesla has faced in recent times.

On the eve of the protests, Tesla told all employees at its Berlin plant to stay at home on Friday in response to a live demonstration foretold by environmental activists. According to the Berliner Zeitung, about 1,200 demonstrators gathered outside the factory in the early morning for the largest public demonstration since the factory was inaugurated. Some demonstrators even briefly broke through police lines, although they were later effectively contained.

According to the Washington Times, the electric car leader co-founded by tech giant Elon Musk has announced to employees on Tuesday that it is suspending operations and plans to resume work on Sunday night. Taking into account the German public holidays, the move means that employees will enjoy four consecutive days of unplanned shutdowns.

André Tyriguer, the plant's senior head of manufacturing, revealed via the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the management decided to take this extraordinary measure due to deep concerns about the safety of its employees. This is the second time this year that Tesla's Berlin factory has suspended production due to external factors. Earlier, an explosion at a high-voltage power line tower suspected to have been orchestrated by environmental activists in March had caused power outages at factories.

In addition, eco-activists have long set up camps in the forests around the factory, posing a constant challenge to Tesla's expansion plans. Tesla's March 2022 factory in Grünheide, a suburb of Berlin, is seen as a direct challenge to Germany's traditional automotive manufacturing. Tesla plans to expand the plant to include a freight terminal, warehouse and corporate kindergarten, but the plan, which involves cutting down more than about 247 acres of forest, has sparked a backlash from environmentalists and local communities who are concerned about the potential impact on the region's water resources.

In mid-February, the citizens of Glenheide rejected Tesla's expansion proposal in an advisory vote, although it still needs to be approved by the local government. With around 12,500 employees, the future of the plant is increasingly uncertain.

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