Tesla factory in Grünheide: Olaf Scholz supports the expansion of the Tesla Gigafactory in Brandenburg

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) supports the planned expansion of the Tesla factory in Grünheide near Berlin. He cited the US car manufacturer Ford’s plant in Cologne as a positive example. “The plant will soon be in existence for 100 years, and the partnership between the company and the city provides perspective for the future,” said Scholz Märkischen General. One can hope that Tesla will… Brandenburg develop just as well. “That’s why I’m in favor of further expanding the plant.”

It was at the beginning of March There was an arson attack on an electricity pylon in Grünheide. Due to the resulting power outage, the Tesla factory had to be evacuated. production came to a standstill for several days. A left-wing extremist group claimed responsibility for the attackthe Federal prosecutors took over the investigation.

Scholz now described the attack as a “terrorist act”. Police and security authorities must “do everything they can to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” said the Chancellor. The Brandenburg state government had also previously spoken of terrorism. Tesla boss Elon Musk blamed “eco-terrorists.”.

Scholz calls for better protection of important infrastructure

Tesla’s Gigafactory in Grünheide is the US electric car manufacturer’s only factory in Europe. The company plans to double production there – from 500,000 electric cars per year to one million. Environmentalists and residents have great concerns about expanding the Tesla factory, among other things because the factory is partly located in a water protection area. There are currently protests from environmental activists against a planned expansion of the factory with a freight station and logistics areas; a left-wing alliance has announced action days against Tesla for the beginning of May.

As a consequence of the attack, Scholz called for greater protection of important facilities. “We see that we need to better protect our infrastructure. This is primarily about cybersecurity,” said the Chancellor Märkischen General. “We must take the dangers to our security infrastructure posed by hackers very seriously. We have taken initial measures with regard to the public infrastructure. And we require everyone who operates networks and hospitals, ports and transport companies to also ensure their protection increase.”

However, following the attack, Scholz has not yet seen any negative consequences for investments in Germany as a business location. “I have no indication that investors will be deterred by this,” said the Chancellor.