Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory Hit by Arson: Activists Disrupt Operations, Costing Millions

Tesla’s factory outside Berlin, Germany has been disrupted due to a suspected arson attack on the local power grid, leading to a shutdown that could cost the automaker over $100 million. Though the fire didn’t spread to Tesla's factory and no one was injured, employees were evacuated, and thousands of local residents briefly lost power as a result.

A group identifying themselves as the “Volcano Group” has claimed responsibility for the attack. The same group reportedly took credit for a similar fire near the Gigafactory site back in 2021. They explained their actions in a letter posted online, stating that they sabotaged Tesla in protest against the company’s environmental impact and its production of “killer machines and monster trucks.”

The attack comes at a time when the Gigafactory, Tesla’s only factory in Europe, has faced some challenges. Before its opening in 2021, there was significant local opposition due to environmental concerns. Just last month, Tesla’s plan for factory expansion was voted down by the public. Despite these hurdles, the factory plays a critical role in Tesla’s operations in Europe, producing around 6,000 electric vehicles per week.

In response to the arson attack, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk criticized the perpetrators on his social media platform, calling the actions “extremely dumb.” Musk's comments come amidst a wave of activism targeting large corporations for their environmental and social impact, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding the company’s expansion and operations.

While this incident has created significant challenges for Tesla, the Gigafactory remains a central piece of Tesla’s European strategy, and the company’s ability to recover from the disruption will likely be a key test as it continues its mission to electrify the automotive industry.