Tesla boss Elon Musk. (Photo: Vasilis Asvestas / Shutterstock.com)
Tesla boss Elon Musk insisted on the tight schedule for the start of his new factory during a visit to Germany, according to the Brandenburg state government – although the approval was missing. Musk has made it clear how important it is to him to adhere to the tight schedule, said Brandenburg’s Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (SPD) on Thursday of the German Press Agency. In addition, Musk has declared his willingness to intensify communication at the factory in Grünheide. The company boss has also reiterated his call for less bureaucracy. In April, Musk complained, among other things, that 16 months after the application there was still no schedule for a permit to build the factory.
Tesla builds in Grünheide a car factory near Berlin, near the capital’s airport. The company plans to build around 500,000 cars a year there. Originally, production was supposed to start in July, but the end of the year is now in the room. The delay is due, among other things, to an amendment to the application for approval – because a battery factory is also to be built in Grünheide. The environmental approval from the state of Brandenburg is still pending. When it comes is still open. Tesla has therefore been building through early approvals.
Meeting planned between Musk and Laschet
On Friday, Union Chancellor candidate and CDU boss Armin Laschet wants to visit the construction site of the so-called Tesla Gigafactory. He will also meet Musk, as Laschet announced on Thursday. Tesla did not initially comment on the visit of the company boss. Musk landed at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport on Wednesday evening. He traveled with his family and then surprisingly met with representatives of the Brandenburg state government in Berlin.
Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) said on Thursday that it was “a good and constructive conversation” with Musk. Economics Minister Steinbach tweeted on Wednesday evening: “Very relaxed evening meeting.” He also posted a photo of Musk in a black T-shirt and a scarf. “We have exchanged trustfully about the upcoming tasks”, wrote Steinbach.
The schedule for the start of production is still unclear – it may come Another public hearing for critics of the project was added. After the renewed public display of the plans, the Brandenburg State Office for the Environment (LfU) has so far only received 44 objections to the construction of the factory; the deadline for objections ends on August 19. According to the authorities, 373 objections were received during the first interpretation of the documents last year, 110 during a second interpretation. dpa
