‘It’s Right To Give Tesla Preferential Treatment’ Says Brandenburg Environment Minister

Tesla is currently undertaking Giga Berlin’s construction with temporary permits and is yet to receive the final permit that will allow the EV maker to begin volume production.

Just last week Brandenburg State Office for Environment announced due to the addition of a battery production facility to Giga Berlin’s plans, Tesla’s Grundheide factory will need to undergo a second public review.

This is expected to cause a minor delay however, in the meantime Tesla is planning to ship made-in-China Model Ys for customers in Europe who can’t wait to get their hands on the all-electric crossover.

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However, environmental groups in Germany have sued to stop Tesla’s Giga Berlin project altogether despite the added scrutiny. At least until the plant’s impact on the environment is fully studied and deliberated on.

Two environmental groups, Nabu and Green League, specifically want the pre-approval of a functional test of the Tesla factory, issued by the State Environment Agency, to be halted until the final permit is issued.

The environmental groups have lobbed criticism at Brandenburg's Environment Minister Axel Vogel for handing out temporary permits that allow Tesla to start testing systems functionality of the paint shop, body shop, and the installation of tanks for wastewater treatment and the refueling system.

However, Axel Vogel doesn’t seem to be too concerned. On Wednesday at an environmental conference of the Brandenburg Chambers of Commerce and Industry Vogel dismissed the environmental associations’ criticisms.

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Vogel said "We are convinced that it is right to give Tesla preferential treatment," because Tesla’s settlement in the area will have an "incredibly positive Europe-wide impact."

Vogel believes Giga Berlin will play a significant role in accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles in Europe saying "We will now see that the switch to electromobility is much faster than we would have thought a few years ago."

#GigaBerlin Brandenburg's environment minister defends preferential treatment for Tesla."We are convinced that it is right to give Tesla preferential treatment, because the Tesla site has an incredibly positive, Europe-wide impact," says the minister.https://t.co/pecuiVjd7x pic.twitter.com/owZEKH1qQV— @GF4Tesla .build #GigaBerlin. (@Gf4Tesla) June 23, 2021

In addition to Axel Vogel, Tesla’s Grünheide factory also has strong support from Brandenburg State PM Dietmar Woidke who said “the application, which Tesla will soon have submitted changed, expanded to include constructing a battery factory - is positive news for the country."

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Woidke speaking to the German press agency also added "It's an additional investment that Tesla has obviously decided to make here."

So what do you think? Do you think it is right that Tesla might get preferential treatment from environmental authorities? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below.

For more information check out: An Important Tool all Tesla Owners Should Carry to Revive a Dead Tesla Also, see Tesla Giga Berlin Nears Last Milestone As Battery Plant & Final Permit Get Schedule For Public Review

Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and The evolution of the EV space on a daily basis for several years. He covers everything about Tesla from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.