Tesla Opens Factory In Germany, But Locals Retest With Allegations Of Environmental Problems

Elon Musk held the Giga Berlin music concert to mark the opening of the Tesla factory. (photo: twitter)

JAKARTA - The first car to be born from Tesla's new factory in Berlin will be launched early next month. This was confirmed by Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, as quoted by Reuters, at the factory site on Saturday, October 9. However, adding that production volumes will take longer to achieve.

Musk hopes to get the go-ahead in the coming weeks to start production at the site. The final consultation on public concerns about the site closes on October 14, after which the Ministry of the Environment will make a decision.

Giga Berlin right now @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/ExC4bKKRa9

— Tesla Silicon Valley Club (@teslaownersSV) October 9, 2021

"Starting production is great, but getting to a certain production volume is the hard part," Musk told a cheering audience at a Giga Berlin festival at the factory site. Many of them even broadcast the speech live on social media. "It will take longer to reach production volumes than it would take to build the plant."

He said production volume would amount to 5,000 or "hopefully 10,000" vehicles per day, and battery cells would be made there in certain volumes by the end of next year. He also defended the plant from criticism of its environmental impact, saying it uses "relatively little" water and that battery cell production is "sustainable".

Party at #GigaBerlin pic.twitter.com/ZvqARpueOp

— Tobias Lindh (@tobilindh) October 9, 2021

Some locals and environmental groups are not happy with Musk's approach, which they say goes against German business culture.

"I would have told him to stop making electric cars, but better fly to Mars," said Manu Hoyer, who led a small protest from locals against the project on environmental grounds. He also said the factory would pollute drinking water.

The Brandenburg economy minister has put the chances of the plant getting approval for operation at 95%.

Tesla has put forward a plan to invest 5 billion euros in a 50 GWh battery plant next to the site, exceeding Volkswagen's planned 40GWh site in Salzgitter.

Musk said Tesla was concerned that recruiting enough staff would be a problem, and asked people to apply from "all over Europe". He hopes the battery factory can reach production volume by the end of next year.

The company is offering 9,000 tickets to the festival, with residents of the state of Brandenburg prioritized. Fans cheered and laughed as Musk took the stage at sunset, greeting him like a pop star.

"Today was unique," said Tesla fan Fred Schroeder. "The Tesla factory in Germany will be open to the public for the first time. It is a very special day."

Another drove his Tesla from Milton Keynes in England, despite not having a ticket. He said it was worth just to see the site from the outside.