Tesla’s Gigafactory in Berlin will resume operations next week, according to Michaela Schmitz, the head of its works council. The factory has been closed since March 5 following a fire at a nearby power pylon, which police are investigating as an arson attack.
“We will restart the factory next week,” Schmitz announced to a gathering of workers at the site, known as Gigafactory Berlin. Some workers held a banner proclaiming, “We won’t be shut down!”
Schmitz condemned the attack, calling it “a dark chapter in our history,” but expressed determination to overcome the setback. The factory’s closure has left its 12,500 employees in limbo and has halted the production of around 1,000 vehicles per week, resulting in expected losses of several hundred million euros.
Tesla’s plant in Gruenheide has faced criticism from some locals and activists concerned about its environmental impact. Schmitz assured employees that they would receive information about the restart soon, although she did not provide specific details.
The arson attack has prompted Germany’s federal prosecutors office to take over the investigation, looking into charges of terrorism and “anti-constitutional sabotage.” Tesla had previously indicated that the factory might be without electricity until the end of the following week.
