Tesla had to stop production at its assembly plant near Berlin on Tuesday after a nearby high-voltage pylon was set on fire, causing a blaze that interrupted electricity supply to the factory and the surrounding area, according to the police.
The Brandenburg police said they were called to the fire at a high-voltage power mast near Tesla’s plant. The facility was not damaged, but the power outage affected the plant and the surrounding region, which is home to around 60,000 people.
Tesla did not comment, but a spokesperson for the U.S. automaker confirmed to German media that production was stopped and employees were evacuated. Around 12,500 people work at the plant, but not all of them were present when the power went out.
By early afternoon, residents reported that power had been restored in some areas.
Authorities said that investigators from the Brandenburg state Office of Criminal Investigation had launched an inquiry and cautioned against speculation on the perpetrator of the arson, despite social media accusations targeting environmental activists.
Since last week, a group of protesters have been camping in cabins and tree platforms near the plant. Tesla plans to clear this forested area to build a rail yard, warehouses, and educational facilities.
In a recent vote, 65% of Grünheide residents expressed opposition to Tesla’s expansion plans. While nonbinding, local officials have pledged to respect the results and reconsider the project.
Environmental activists are concerned that government authorities may prioritize economic benefits over citizens’ concerns.
The interior minister of Brandenburg, Michael Stübgen, denounced the suspected arson, calling it an attack on electricity infrastructure with serious consequences.
Tesla’s Grünheide assembly plant is the company’s only facility in Europe. It aims to double its production capacity to 1 million cars per year, surpassing Volkswagen’s plant in Wolfsburg.
A group claiming to be linked to the antifascist movement, known as “Vulkangruppe,” sent a letter to a Berlin newspaper, Tagesspiegel, taking responsibility for the attack on Tesla.
The letter stated, “Switch off for Tesla,” and was attributed to a far-left extremist group that had previously disrupted construction at the Tesla factory in 2021.
