An arson attack halted production at a massive Tesla factory in Germany Tuesday morning, with a left-wing activist group claiming responsibility.
Protesters identifying themselves as Volcano Group said Tesla was operating with “extreme exploitation conditions” and called for the “complete destruction of the gigafactory.”
The arsonists set fire to a high-voltage transmission line on a tower, causing a power outage across several towns, including Grünheide, which is home to the Berlin-Brandenburg Tesla factory.
Though the towns got power back within a few hours, Tesla leaders said it would take several days to restore production at the factory.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk called the attackers “either the dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth or they’re puppets of those who don’t have good environmental goals.”
The electric car maker has announced plans to expand its “gigafactory” in the east Berlin suburb. The expansion would involve cutting down nearly 250 acres of forest in the area. Environmental protesters have responded by setting up camp in the woods.
In a nonbinding vote in February, the residents of Grünheide rejected Tesla’s plans to expand the factory, which opened in 2022. However, the company only needs approval from local authorities, which are still considering the expansion.
German police promised to investigate the arson attack. No members of Volcano Group were immediately publicly identified.
“Stopping production of electric vehicles, rather than fossil fuel vehicles, ist extrem dumm,” Musk added on X, using the German for “extremely stupid.”
With News Wire Services
