After camping outside Tesla’s Gigafactory in Germany Over the past week, this morning environmental protesters stormed this facility. Hundreds of people marched into the factory, past police armed with pepper spray. Protesters are arguing that Gigafactory Extension is not allowed about allegations of greenwashing.
Hundreds of climate protesters have pledged to attend today’s action, which they have witnessed parade at Tesla Gigafactory in Berlin-Brandenburg, reports CNBC News. At the time of the march, Tesla had closed the facility after a national holiday on Thursday, and urged workers to stay home on Friday.
Since Monday, Climate protesters have camping outside the factory that produces the Tesla Model Y for sale across Europe. Activists from disruption movement participated in this action, which was an anti-capitalist campaign calling for an end to greenwashing. Greenwashing is the act of hiding a product’s true environmental impact behind environmental claims. As Business Insider explains:
Disrupt is a self-declared “coalition” of anti-capitalist groups that opposes plans to double the production capacity of the Grünheide plant.
They argue that Tesla’s expansion plans will require the company to clear local forests and could tighten local water supplies.
So far, police in the area have confirmed that “many unauthorized people are trying to enter the property” on X Street. A spokesperson for Brandenburg police told CNBC News that roadblocks are now in place. go out around the factory and described the scene as “dynamic.”
Tesla has so far not commented on the siege at its facility, however boss Elon Musk has previously attacked protesters called for stopping factory expansion. Earlier this year, Musk took to .
The The American electric vehicle manufacturer has has been striving to increase production at its factory in Germany for many months now. The facility expansion will allow the company to increase production of battery packs and complete vehicles. As CNBC explains:
Tesla’s expansion plans include designs for a rail freight depot and storage facilities that could help it avoid dependence on other logistics providers and avoid production shutdowns due to lack of spare parts.
Tesla suffered a symbolic setback in February when locals voted against allowing a factory expansion. However, the vote is non-binding and Tesla and local officials still intend to push it forward.
The move has angered the opposition, who say the plan will have a negative impact on the local environment. According to reports, the plan would require clearing about 250 acres of forest very close to the reserve.
