Tensions flared on Friday as environmental activists attempted to breach the grounds of Tesla Giga Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide, Germany. The protest is reportedly in opposition to the planned expansion of the facility and resulted in a confrontation with police, injuries, and arrests. The anti-Tesla group made headway in breaking into Giga Berlin-Brandenburg’s premises by overcoming wildlife fences and police barriers.
Police spokesperson Maik Kettlitz informed that the protesters were repelled by the police using water cannons and a clearing tank. Several arrests have been made in connection with the anti-Tesla protests. Videos posted online showed large numbers of activists running towards Giga Berlin-Brandenburg and photos revealed that some Model Y crossovers had been vandalized by the demonstrators.
The nearby Freienbrink motorway exit and surrounding streets were closed, and rail service between Berlin and Frankfurt (Oder) was temporarily halted. Service reportedly resumed by mid-afternoon. Activists have been camped out in a forest near the factory since February, occupying tree houses in protest of the deforestation that Giga Berlin-Brandenburg’s expansion is expected to cause.
The activists also argued that the region would be “sold out to Tesla,” stating, “Our livelihoods are not for sale.”
Tesla noted that the protests did not have a large impact on its operations, especially considering Giga Berlin-Brandenburg’s short-term vehicle production halt on Friday, which had been scheduled since January.