when Elon Musk encouraged Germans to support the far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) in last year’s election, Manu Heuer, a resident of the small town where the billionaire established Tesla’s European production center, expressed her concerns.
“How can you engage in business with individuals who endorse right-wing extremism?” she questioned Dietimar Wudike, the Social Democrat leader in Brandenburg, who backed the creation of the Tesla Giga Factory in Grunheide.
Heuer described Woidke’s “unfortunate, yet predictable” response, where he dismissed the claim. “He claimed he didn’t know Musk personally, as if that were a valid excuse,” she noted.
Manu Heuer has sought to question local politicians regarding Elon Musk’s backing of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Photo: Imago/Alamy
She co-founded Citizens’ Initiatives to develop a vibrant community on a sandy plain southwest of Berlin to oppose plans announced in 2019. At the time, there was significant concern regarding the potential environmental effects of factories on the local pine forests and groundwater.
Recently, it is Musk’s politics that have raised alarms. Not only did he notably endorse far-right European parties, but he also appeared to make a Nazi salute at a rally following Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Elon Musk will inspect the vehicle when production commences at the Tesla facility in Grunheide. Photo: Patrick Pleul/AFP/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Tesla’s sales have declined, particularly in Europe, where new vehicle sales have dropped for the fifth consecutive month, despite overall growth in the electric vehicle market.
Heiko Basin, another member of the civic initiative, expressed a sense of schadenfreude. “We had placed our hopes in this,” the carpenter shared during a recent walk in the shadows of the expansive Grunheide factory.
As sales continue to drop, factories face challenges. Production shifts for the Y model have decreased from 3-2 units per day. IG Metal, which has recruited hundreds of workers despite Tesla’s resistance, urged the company to consider placing employees in “Kurzarbeit.”
Regional media has reported that Tesla is relocating to carriers at a former East German airport, approximately 60 km (37 miles) away.
Musk’s apparent Nazi salute elicited shock and horror in Germany, but it went largely unnoticed in Grunheide until the campaign group projected an image on the facade of the Tesla factory with the Nazi-related word “heil” provocatively placed in front of the Tesla logo.
The outcry from the incident was palpable on the factory floor, as workers told tabloid Berlin Klier. “In Tesla Germany, they tried to maintain distance from (Musk) and remained silent,” one worker noted. Now, they could no longer ignore their ties.
Workers are hard to reach and are often compelled to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Yet, on Khunnu, a work portal allowing employees to express their thoughts anonymously, a Tesla worker shared:
Almut, a local resident, remarked that politicians tout the benefits Tesla has brought to the area, yet “fail to acknowledge the troubling reality that it subsidizes the wealthiest individual in the world who bears no social responsibility for what occurs here.”
She said locals often joke about what might replace the factory if Tesla were to fail. “Ammunition factories? Prisons? In a way, those seem like decent alternatives,” she quipped. The only positive contribution she could recall from Tesla was the robotic lawnmower it donated to a local soccer club.
While local politicians in Grunheide were keen to highlight the advantages of the factory, some residents voiced concerns about the environmental effects of light pollution and excessive water consumption. Photo: Michele Tantussi/Getty Images
Just two weeks prior to the salute, Musk publicly supported the AFD during an hour-long discussion with co-leader Alice Weidel, touching on topics like Hitler, solar energy, and German bureaucracy. Musk mentioned that Tesla had to submit a staggering 25,000-page form to establish the Grunheide factory. Notably, the AFD has vehemently opposed the Tesla facility, citing concerns over US-led turbo-capitalism and the erosion of workers’ rights. “People need to get behind the AFD,” Musk stated.
For Grunheide residents who oppose Musk, their concerns are compounded by the factory’s impact on rural areas characterized by forests, lakes, and rivers.
New bike lanes and roads necessitate the clearing of large swaths of pine forests, threatening the area’s already precarious drinking water resources and officially declared drought zones.
Tesla Giga Factory with forests in the backdrop. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
The expansive factory complex, covering 300 hectares (740 acres), is set for expansion by another 100 hectares under a plan submitted by the Mayor of Grunheide, despite a local referendum where 62% of voters voiced opposition.
Supporters highlight the 11,000 jobs created by the factories and the positive impact on the local economy in a region previously governed by the Communist Party. Many young residents look forward to more frequent train services to Berlin, improved supermarket stocks, and the elevation of their hometowns alongside Tesla’s other locations in Shanghai, Nevada, and Austin as examples of “green capitalism.” It is said that an invitation to the “Rave Cave” Technodance Space Mask was sought within the factory complex.
For job openings, the Tesla recruitment page emphasizes that diversity is central to its business model, listing numerous positions available from shift managers to maintenance technicians.
Nevertheless, even among those who have previously expressed enthusiasm for Tesla, sentiments have turned cold. Formerly, a group of local teenagers routinely flew drones over the construction site and proudly shared their videos on YouTube. “Even though I’m no longer anonymous about Tesla/Elon, I’m happy to discuss publicly about them,” one teen texted to the Guardian.
There has been no response from the company regarding interview requests or access to the factory.
Arne Christani, the Mayor of Grunheide and a steadfast Musk supporter, expressed confidence that Tesla will thrive in Grunheide. He mentioned he was unfazed by Musk’s statements or actions. “We must differentiate between what happens in the United States and here in Grunheide,” he stated.
Heuer, living 9 km from the factory, remains hopeful of seeing a starry sky from her garden once again. “Since the factory was built, it’s been challenging due to light pollution from the round-the-clock operation,” she remarked, sharing before and after photos on her phone.
Source: www.theguardian.com
