Elon Musk Condemns ‘Dumb Eco-Terrorists’ in Response to Tesla
Elon Musk has criticized a suspected arson attack that has temporarily halted production at Tesla’s Berlin car factory as “dumb.” The attack, claimed by a far-left activist group called the Volcano Group, targeted the site due to concerns about the environmental impact of the factory’s resource and labor usage. The interruption in production is expected to cost Tesla “in the high nine-digit euro range,” with car-making unlikely to resume before the following week.
Using the German phrase “extrem dumm” (extremely stupid) in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk expressed his disapproval of the attack, describing the perpetrators as either “the dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth” or puppets manipulated by those lacking genuine environmental goals.
The incident involved a fire near the factory caused by a burning electricity pylon, resulting in power outages at the facility and nearby towns. While the fire did not reach Tesla’s factory, it damaged the electricity pylon and high-voltage wires.
In a letter claiming responsibility for the attack, the Volcano Group accused Tesla of resource consumption, labor exploitation, groundwater contamination, and excessive use of drinking water. State police are currently examining the letter, and Interior Minister for Brandenburg state Michael Stuebgen emphasized that the rule of law would respond to such acts of sabotage with severity.
The expansion plans for Tesla’s German factory have faced opposition from some environmentalists, particularly regarding the removal of nearby trees. Approximately 100 people are camping in a forest near the factory, but green activists, including a group named Robin Wood, distanced themselves from the arson attack.
The factory, currently producing around 500,000 cars annually, aims to double its capacity. However, the production disruption, coupled with the controversial expansion plans, underscores the challenges Tesla faces in balancing its growth ambitions with environmental concerns. Plant manager Andre Thierig anticipates production resuming next week, acknowledging the significant financial impact of the outage.
