Elon Musk posts drone footage of Berlin Gigafactory as it nears completion

[midian182]

In brief: Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory has run into some issues during its construction, but the end looks to be in sight. CEO Elon Musk has tweeted a drone video showing the snow-covered buildings, which will manufacture the Model Y for Europe, as it nears completion.

Located in Brandenburg, about 20 miles south-east of Berlin, the 92-hectare site is so large that it looks quite flat in the video, though Musk notes it actually ranges up to 5 stories tall.

Snow falling on Giga Berlin pic.twitter.com/eTXMtYp8hG

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 4, 2021

The Gigafactory will create 10,000 jobs and produce 500,000 cars per year, according to Musk. The world’s largest battery plant is also set to be constructed at the location.

Not everyone is happy about the plant. As reported by the Guardian, a group of locals are campaigning to stop construction, which has already seen one hundred hectares of pine trees felled and 86 more hectares likely to follow.

Tesla had been ordered by a court to suspend work over claims by Germany’s Nature Protection Union (NABU) that it is destroying the habitat of the sand lizard and European smooth snake, both protected species that live in the woodland.

Tesla also has the problem of an outstanding downpayment to the local environment agency of €100 million ($122.7 million) to cover possible remediation costs. Company lawyers have, however, filed to extend the deadline for payment.

In total, 360 objections to the Gigafactory have been lodged, but authorities have told Musk he can continue the project, albeit at his own risk. Teslarati writes that the recent lawsuits have ended up accelerating the approval process for the site.

In response to the environmental protests, Tesla has promised to plant three times as many trees as it fells, and build fences to protect the lizards and snakes.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/88168-elon-musk-posts-drone-footage-berlin-gigafactory-nears.html

 

[VitalyT]

The Gigafactory will create 10,000 jobs

Right on! There are about 250,000 Chinese living in Germany now, and many are looking for a new job.

Tesla has promised to build fences to protect the lizards and snakes

Are we talking metaphorically here, as in lawyers and politicians? If so, I'd rather squash those.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Tesla is the spearhead of the inevitable removal of gasoline powered cars (ice).

Hope ya’ll bought in to the EV stocks...

 

[VitalyT]

Tesla is the spearhead of the inevitable removal of gasoline powered cars (ice).

A rather blunt spearhead. After so many years, Tesla still produces cars with the largest panel misalignments and gaps. The latest Y-model is ridden with quality issues, some even quote it is by far the worst. Way to go Tesla!

 

[Uncle Al]

Still sounds like Tesla has a LOT to do to mend their ways and get the locals on their side. I think they will learn the hard lesson that German courts are a lot less forgiving of corporate tactic's to avoid or delay payments and environmental groups in Europe swing a much bigger hammer than in the US.

 

[Irata]

I am still amazed Tesla has been putting up with this.

I very much doubt that it‘s a group of locals that are campaigning against the plant.

As for the „forests“ that are being cut down: They are actually commercial pine plantations with trees that are not native to the area and date back to the socialist era.

Replacing them with native growth actual forests is part of the State‘s environmental plan and afaik Tesla committed to reforest other areas in that manner.

 

[EEatGDL]

I just come to the comment section for amusement: reading hate comments towards Musk or his companies. It's the only thing one can do in Techspot's comment section.

 

[bviktor]

As for the „forests“ that are being cut down: They are actually commercial pine plantations with trees that are not native to the area and date back to the socialist era.

Replacing them with native growth actual forests is part of the State‘s environmental plan and afaik Tesla committed to reforest other areas in that manner.

In fact they'll plant 3 times as many trees as they cut here.

 

[koblongata]

For an auto company only started mass producing for 8 years, this is quite an achievement, not only for them but for everyone. Goodspeed.