- Title: Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives at construction site of new German gigafactory
- Date: 13th August 2021
- Summary: GRUENHEIDE, GERMANY (AUGUST 13, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TESLA CEO ELON MUSK ARRIVING IN BLUE TESLA AT CONSTRUCTION SITE OF NEW GIGAFACTORY VARIOUS OF GERMANY'S CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE FOR CHANCELLOR, ARMIN LASCHET, ARRIVING IN CAR WIDE OF CONSTRUCTION SITE BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 13, 2021) (REUTERS) PROTESTER WEARING WOLF COSTUME WITH SIGN READING (German): "I CREATE JOBS IN GREEN ENVIRONMENT, IT JUST COSTS YOUR WATER" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS IN WOLF AND BERLIN BEAR COSTUME IN FRONT OF BRANDENBURG GATE PROTESTERS WITH SIGNS READING (German): "TESLA NO" PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (German) "WATER SHORTAGE FOR OUR CHILDREN" (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF ASSOCIATION FOR LANDSCAPES AND NATURE IN BRANDENBURG, MANUELA HOYER, SAYING: "I blame Tesla, and not only Tesla, but also the state government and the politicians, for building such a chemical factory in a drinking water protection area, and ultimately in one of the most arid regions of Germany, this factory is being built in a water protection area where, according to the entry documents, it needs masses of water that is already no longer there.") SIGN READING (German): "TESLA IS HERE, (RIVER) SPREE IS GONE" (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF ASSOCIATION FOR LANDSCAPE AND NATURE IN BRANDENBURG, MANUELA HOYER, SAYING: " I demand from the politicians that they make all the specifications transparent because the deadline for objections expires next week. We, as citizens, can not judge at all what chemicals he uses or has there, because everything is blacked out." MORE OF PROTEST IN FRONT OF BRANDENBURG GATE
- Embargoed: 27th August 2021 10:12
- Keywords: Brandenburg Elon Musk Germany Tesla gigafactory
- Location: GRUENHEIDE & BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: GRUENHEIDE & BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Company News Markets,Europe,Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA001EQ43HQL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk arrived at the construction site of the "Gigafactory" in Gruenheide near Berlin on Friday (August 13) where he took a look at the progress of his latest project together with Armin Laschet, Germany's conservative candidate to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor in the September election.
Musk told reporters during his visit Tesla hoped to make the first cars at the German plant in October or soon afterwards.
Tesla has pushed back the expected opening of the gigafactory to late 2021, blaming German bureaucratic hurdles. The plant has also faced local public resistance due to environmental concerns.
Protesters gathered in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, blaming Tesla, but also the state government for allowing the plant to build in a drinking water protection area and one of the driest regions of Germany.
"This factory is being built in a water protection area where, according to the entry documents, it needs masses of water that is already no longer there," Manuela Hoyer said, head of an association for landscapes and nature in Brandenburg. The protesters called for more transparency into the gigafactory construction.
Musk was asked about the concerns regarding possible water shortages at a joint statement with Laschet.
"This region has so much water. Look around you," he laughed. "Does this seem like a desert to you?" It's ridiculous. It rains a lot."
The environmental agency in Brandenburg has yet to give final approval, meaning a further delay cannot be ruled out, even until 2022.
(Production: Martin Schlicht, Tobias Schlie, Max Schwartz, Susanne Neumayer-Remter, Ulrike Heil) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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