Power outage: Tesla production stops near Berlin

Production has stopped at Tesla's only European car factory after a power outage. A spokeswoman told the German News Agency today.

The factory in Gruenheide near Berlin was evacuated. The burning of a power pole previously caused a major power outage in the area near the Tesla factory. Regarding the possible cause, police initially said: “We are investigating in all directions.”

As Tesla continued, every measure was taken to secure production facilities. After consulting with electricity supplier Edis, Tesla does not expect to resume production quickly.

As the police announced, the fire department was called to the fire in the Gossen-Neuw Zittau area near Berlin at around 5:15 a.m. and began to extinguish the fire. According to the spokesman, the fire caused a power outage in the area.

Police spokesman Roland Cummins said the electricity pole was freestanding in a field. A police helicopter was also deployed in the morning after the fire alarm was raised.

Relationship between protests against expansion?

When asked, authorities did not comment on a possible connection to protests around the location of the Tesla factory. Since Thursday, between 80 and 100 environmental activists have occupied part of the state forest in Brandenburg near the Tesla factory, which Elon Musk's company wants cleared if its site is expanded.

The activists built about ten tree houses several meters high, and declared that they wanted to hold out as long as possible. The Grünheide Citizens Initiative also speaks out against Tesla's expansion plans and shows solidarity with the occupiers.