The power outage is the latest problem facing the plant.
frankfurt, Germany:
Tesla halted production at its German factory on Tuesday after high-voltage lines feeding the automaker’s only European factory were set on fire in what far-left groups claimed was an act of “sabotage.”
Emergency services received reports in the early hours of Tuesday that a transmission tower was burning near the Tesla factory in southeast Berlin.
The fire was extinguished, but damaged lines left the factory and surrounding villages without power.
Police said they had launched an investigation into suspected arson, which far-left activists from the so-called “Vulkangruppe” (volcano group) claimed responsibility.
“Through our sabotage activities we have set ourselves the goal of achieving the maximum possible blackout at the Gigafactory,” the group said in a statement posted on a far-left website.
The group highlighted concerns about the environmental impact of the plant and local water supplies.
“We are in contact with everyone who won’t let Tesla turn off the tap,” the group said.
Brandenburg’s Interior Minister Michael Stuebgen said if the arson was confirmed, it would be a “vicious attack on our electricity infrastructure.”
“Thousands of people have been cut off from essential supplies and are at risk. The rule of law will respond with the utmost severity to this act of vandalism.”
controversial expansion
Tesla said its production facilities at the Grünheide plant were in a “safe condition” following the shutdown and that workers had been sent home.
“We are in close contact with the authorities and (power supplier) Edis. At this time we are unable to say when production can resume,” the company said in a statement.
The power outage is the latest problem facing the plant.
In January, much of the plant’s production was suspended for two weeks due to parts shortages caused by shipping delays caused by attacks by Yemeni rebels on the Red Sea, a key trade route.
Tesla’s German factory will begin production in 2022 after a difficult two-year approval and construction process, plagued by administrative and legal obstacles.
Tesla wants to expand the factory by 170 hectares (420 acres) and boost annual production to 1 million vehicles to meet growing demand for electric vehicles in Europe and compete with rivals that are abandoning internal combustion engine vehicles.
But the plans angered local residents, who voted against the project in a non-binding vote last month.
After the vote, Tesla said it might have to reconsider those plans.
“We recognize that the citizens of Glenhead are concerned about the planned expansion of the site,” the company said.
forest camp
Environmental activists opposed to Elon Musk’s company’s expansion of its factory recently set up a camp in the woods near the factory.
Protesters at the forest camp share local opposition to the factory. The forest camp is located in a forested area that the automaker would have to raze if the expansion continues.
Activists say that in addition to deforestation, local drinking water supplies are also under threat.
Stop Tesla, the group behind the protest camp, said on Tuesday it had “no idea” of the cause of the fire and said it “stands with Tesla workers and local residents.”
Tesla has plenty of headaches in other areas, too.
In Sweden, Tesla maintenance workers have been on strike for more than four months because they refused to sign a collective wage agreement.
In January, the company reported lower fourth-quarter operating profit despite higher revenue, while warning of slower sales growth this year.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
