Tesla's German Gigafactory is back in operation sooner than expected following an arson attack that caused a temporary shutdown. Production has resumed gradually after the local energy company reconnected the factory to the electricity grid. The facility, situated outside Berlin, is Tesla's sole plant in Europe.
The arson attack on March 5, claimed by far-left activists, had a significant impact as the factory employs 12,500 individuals and manufactures 1,000 cars daily, primarily Model Y SUVs and battery cells. The attack was attributed to the Volcano Group, who set fire to an electricity pylon near the plant and boasted about disrupting Tesla's operations on their website.
Initially, Tesla anticipated the factory closure to last longer, but with the reconnection to the power grid, production is gradually resuming. The incident drew criticism from Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, who referred to the perpetrators as 'eco-terrorists' and criticized their actions as counterproductive to the goal of transitioning to electric vehicles.
The group responsible for the attack expressed their anti-Tesla sentiments, accusing the company of exploiting resources and labor to produce vehicles they deemed harmful to the environment. Despite the setback, Tesla is working towards restoring normal production levels at the Gigafactory.
While the exact timeline for full production recovery remains uncertain, the reopening of the factory marks a positive step forward for Tesla's operations in Europe. The company's response to the incident and efforts to resume production demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges.
