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Environmental concerns halt German Tesla Gigafactory

Tesla’s plan to build a  ‘gigafactory’ near Berlin have been put on hold by order of a German court injunction.


As reported by the BBC, local environmentalists Green League filed for the injunction against the plant’s construction, which could see close to 300 hectares of the Brandenburg region cleared.

The proposal has seen resistance in Germany since its announcement, amid concerns of deforestation and excessive water-usage.

However, while Germany’s environmental ministry approved Tesla for site preparation – which has already seen approximately 91 hectares of forest cleared – the marque has not yet received official permission to build the factory.

“It should not be assumed that the motion seeking legal protection brought by the Green League lacks any chance of succeeding,” the court representing Berlin and Brandenburg said in a statement.

The complaints against Tesla come despite the company’s promise to relocate colonies of animals in the area which include ants, reptiles and bats.

The injunction puts Tesla under addition pressure, as more and more European carmakers begin to invest in electric vehicle infrastructure – Maserati announcing theirs only yesterday – and timing becomes an increasing factor in commercial success.

Tesla's proposed facility is set to be the third of its kind in the world and the first in Europe, with plants already constructed in the United States and China.

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