Tesla plans to build a factory and then cars in Grünheide near Berlin. In the small community, this meets with divided opinions. Some welcome the plans of the company boss Elon Musk, others want to prevent the work. In a demo, both sides come together.
Around 200 people demonstrated against the planned settlement of the US electric car maker Tesla in the Brandenburg community of Grünheide near Berlin, according to police. With posters saying: “No large factory in the forest” and “Secretly negotiated – Environment changed”, the citizens protested against the clearing of the forest for the large area on which the factory is to be built.
Around 30 people took part in another demo for the Tesla settlement, as the police said on request. According to the organizers, there were around 50 participants, including numerous families with children. Banners read “Elon, I want a car from you” or “Design instead of preventing.” Some residents from Grünheide came with their Tesla vehicles.
When a train of Tesla opponents passed the supporters, there were brief verbal conflicts. Both sides insulted each other. The police were on site with numerous emergency services. The situation then calmed down again. The Tesla opponents want to continue their protests in the coming days, including a walk in the forest. The supporters, on the other hand, said that the demonstration for Tesla was a one-time event that was intended to send a signal that people in the village would welcome the car maker.
Looking for Polish workers?
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Tesla has just caused a stir with a job advertisement for the new HR department in the Brandenburg plant. We are looking for an employee with fluent German, English and Polish skills. Many suspect that Tesla also wants to hire Polish employees. The neighboring country is around 60 kilometers away and it is obvious that the company is also looking for skilled workers across the border. Also last week, the company opened an information office in Grünheide to respond to questions from citizens. There had previously been a demonstration against the planned settlement on the territory of the community.
Tesla plans to build up to 500,000 Model 3 and Y vehicles and future models per year in the factory, initially around 150,000 vehicles per year. The Tesla board has not yet signed the sales contract with the country. Minister of Economics Steinbach said Tesla should do this by the end of this week. He expects that the site will be ready for construction in mid-March after the clearing of 90 hectares of pine forest. The 300 hectare site is currently being searched for ammunition from the Second World War.
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