American electric car manufacturer Tesla met with rejection from the residents of Grünheide near Berlin with its plans to expand the factory site. In a survey, 3,499 residents voted no and 1,882 voted yes, as the Brandenburg community announced. Grünheide community representatives have yet to decide on the development plan. The vote in the citizen survey is not binding, but is seen as an important guideline.
In addition to the existing 300-hectare factory site, Tesla wants to build a freight yard, warehouses and a company kindergarten on another 170 hectares. To achieve this, more than 100 hectares of forest will be cut down.
Criticism from conservationists
Conservationists and citizen initiatives are against the expansion. For example, they point out that forests need to be cut down and that part of the site is in a water protection area. Critics, but also sympathizers, made their views clear during the research through flyers and posters.
The majority votes no to Tesla’s expansion – implement the result now! ✊🥳
The citizens voted by approximately 63% (provisional results) against an expansion of the Tesla factory in Grünheide! pic.twitter.com/UyBTvMHmdB
— End Gelaende (@Ende__Glaende) February 20, 2024
Tesla sees benefits for the region if the development plan is finally implemented. According to the car manufacturer, the workstation could relieve freight traffic. It is also about greater security of supply with storage space. Tesla recently had to halt car production for about two weeks due to missing parts due to the uncertain situation in the Red Sea.
Tesla wants to double production
About 5,400 citizens participated in the survey. According to the community, participation was over 70 percent. All residents of Grünheide over the age of 16 who had lived in the community for at least three months were allowed to vote.
Tesla wants to build more cars in Grünheide in the future and expand the factory on the existing site. The company wants to double production capacity from the current target of 500,000 cars per year to one million. It currently employs around 12,500 workers, recently producing 6,000 cars per week – that’s the equivalent of 300,000 vehicles per year. However, the citizen survey was about the expansion with a freight station and logistics spaces on a new building.
Minister sees results as an opportunity
Brandenburg’s Minister of Economic Affairs Jörg Steinbach (SPD) also sees the rejection of the planned expansion of the Tesla factory in a citizen survey in Grünheide near Berlin as an opportunity. “It shows that people’s concerns and fears clearly weigh more heavily,” Steinbach told the German news agency on Tuesday. “Now it is important to find answers to open questions. I also see the voting results as motivation for the community and Tesla to provide a conceptual response to the concerns that remain unresolved in the coming weeks and months.”
With their large participation and vote, citizens sent an important signal and made committed use of their democratic options.
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
