Tesla to Begin Initial Construction Measures Following Approval
After receiving preliminary approval for the expansion of its only European factory, the US car manufacturer Tesla plans to start the construction of individual projects as early as next week. These include, for example, a logistics area for new vehicles, new stairwells, and buildings for future office, break, and sanitary areas, as the company announced upon request.
Tesla intends to expand production on its site in the medium term and build out the factory accordingly. Production is to be doubled from 500,000 cars in Grünheide near Berlin to one million cars per year. Most recently, approximately 300,000 cars were produced on an annual basis. The planned expansion of the site for the construction of a freight station, which has been accompanied by protests, has nothing to do with the expansion on the existing factory site.
Approval does not yet include production facilities
This week, the State Office for the Environment (LfU) granted Tesla a permit for the early commencement of construction measures. However, this permit does not include the construction of a new production hall, but only preparatory measures. According to their own statements, the LfU plans to make a final decision on this partial permit by fall at the latest.
"It should also be considered that Tesla wants to or has already divided the modification project into several partial permit sections," a spokesperson for the State Office for the Environment (LfU) said on Friday in response to an inquiry. "Currently, only the first partial permit application has been submitted to the LfU." A decision on this is expected in the summer, "possibly in the fall," it was said.
Environmental Groups Are Skeptical
Environmentalists and local residents have significant concerns about the production expansion and the extension, as the plant is partly located in a water protection area. The car manufacturer wants to build another large hall and optimize existing production facilities. The capacity of battery storage production is also set to increase. According to the ministry, the early start of construction initially involves a logistics area for new cars, including underground pipes, as well as the construction of staircases at the press shop and solar systems on roofs.
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