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 damage the building but resulted in a power outage affecting the plant and approximately 60,000 residents in the area. Tesla confirmed that production was halted and all employees were evacuated, though not all 12,500 workers would have been present at the time of the incident.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the arson, cautioning against speculation on the motive. However, social media has been abuzz with accusations pointing towards environmental activists, particularly those protesting Tesla’s expansion plans in the area.
Since last week, protesters have been camping out in the forested area adjacent to the plant, where Tesla intends to build a rail yard and other facilities. The community of Grünheide, where the factory is located, recently voted against Tesla’s expansion plans, prompting local officials to reconsider their approach.
The suspected arson has been condemned by Brandenburg’s top security official, who called it a “perfidious attack on our electricity infrastructure” with potential consequences. A group claiming responsibility for the attack, “Vulkangruppe,” linked itself to the antifascist movement and previously carried out similar actions in the region.
Tesla’s 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 highlights the ongoing tensions between environmental concerns, community interests, and economic development in the region.
