 "Arson at Tesla's German factory cost them $1 billion in damages, to lose more as production suspended")
A team of environmental extremists identifying themselves as the Volcano Group caused a power outage at Tesla’s German factory on Tuesday by committing arson.
The fire caused some serious damage to portions of Tesla’s Gigafactory, to the tune of $1 billion. This is in addition to the loss that Elon Musk’s Tesla will have to put up with because of the factory shutting down and production being halted for a couple of days.
Over 60,000 residents in Brandenburg and parts of Berlin were affected when a high-voltage power mast near Tesla’s Grunheide factory was set on fire, raising concerns about safeguarding critical infrastructure from vandalism and sabotage.
The group, in a statement to the media, claimed responsibility for the act, referring to Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk as ‘misery’ Musk, and stating that the destruction of the Gigafactory and the removal of ’technofascists’ like Musk were steps toward liberation from the patriarchy.
The factory’s senior director, Andre Thierig, estimated Tesla’s economic losses from the production stoppage to be in the “high hundreds of millions” of euros, as approximately 1,000 vehicles per day cannot be manufactured. The Grünheide factory, Tesla’s first in Europe, produces the Model Y crossover for various European markets, including Germany.
Emergency power still relies on the local substation, which was disconnected from the grid due to the attack, causing backup systems to fail. With ventilation in Grünheide knocked out, all 12,500 employees were sent home, and repairs could take several days.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe Volcano Group, described by Musk as the “dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth,” remains elusive. Their sporadic attacks target remote locations, damaging vital infrastructure such as telecommunication networks, trains, and manufacturing plants.
The Federal Association for the Protection of Critical Infrastructures in Germany emphasizes the need for enhanced security measures, suggesting the use of drones for monitoring.
This incident is not the first time the Volcano Group has targeted Tesla’s factory. In May 2021, during the plant’s construction phase, they disrupted the power supply. Brandenburg’s industries minister, Jörg Steinbach, expressed solidarity with Tesla and vowed to prevent further attacks.
The attack adds to Tesla’s challenges in Europe. Local opposition to the factory’s expansion and environmental concerns have been raised, and reports of water pollution have surfaced. Additionally, earlier this year, production was halted due to disruptions in the supply chain caused by attacks in the Red Sea.
Despite the setback, the halt in production may help reduce unsold inventory levels in Europe, potentially mitigating the need for further price incentives.
(With inputs from agencies)
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