The Tesla assembly plant outside Berlin was forced to halt production early Tuesday after a high-voltage pylon nearby was set on fire, causing a blaze that cut off electricity to the factory and surrounding region, according to police reports.
The Brandenburg police responded to the fire at the power mast near Tesla’s plant, which did not cause any damage to the building but resulted in a power outage affecting the plant and approximately 60,000 residents in the area. Tesla confirmed that production had been halted and all employees were evacuated, although not all 12,500 workers would have been present at the time of the incident.
Authorities have started an investigation into the arson, cautioning against speculation on the motive behind the attack. Social media has been abuzz with accusations pointing towards environmental activists, especially since protesters have been camping out in a forested area adjacent to the plant, opposing Tesla’s expansion plans.
Last month, a majority of voters in Grünheide, the community surrounding the factory, voted against Tesla’s expansion plans, prompting local officials to reconsider their approach. Environmental activists fear that the economic benefits brought by Tesla to the region may override citizens’ wishes.
A group claiming responsibility for the attack, “Vulkangruppe,” linked to the antifascist movement, sent a letter to a Berlin newspaper stating, “Switch off for Tesla.” This group has been previously named in security reports for carrying out similar attacks in the region.
The Tesla assembly plant in Grünheide is the company’s only one in Europe, with plans to increase production capacity to 1 million cars per year. The incident has raised concerns about the security of the facility and the potential impact on Tesla’s operations in the region.
