--- title: "Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin Faces 406 Objections from Locals" description: "Tesla's Gigafactory in Berlin, currently under construction, is facing yet another big hurdle in winning over the hearts of local citizens and regulators." date: "2020-09-11" modified: "2020-09-11" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-gigafactory-berlin-objections" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Tesla" tags: - "elon musk" - "gigafactory" - "gigafactory berlin" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin Faces 406 Objections from Locals ![Tesla's Gigafactory in Berlin, currently under construction, is facing yet another big hurdle in winning over the hearts of local citizens and regulators.]() *\Image: Tesla\* ## Move Fast and Break Things Tesla's Gigafactory in Berlin, currently under construction, is facing yet another hurdle in winning over the hearts of local citizens and regulators, [*Teslarati* reports](). According to [an announcement]() by the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection (MLUK) of Brandenburg, Germany, residents have raised 406 objections to the construction of the gigantic factory. An event on September 23 will allow the complainants to discuss their objections, with only a limited number of seats available due to the ongoing pandemic. If Tesla can't secure the final building permits for its factory, the Elon Musk-led company would have to restore the site to its original state, according to *Teslarati*. Strong political support, however, means there's a strong chance Tesla will prevail. ## Megafactory According to Musk, Tesla will build a redesigned Model Y at the factory, as well as battery cells. The factory will even feature "an indoor/outdoor rave space on the roof," [according to the CEO](). The factory's construction has been rolling out at a breakneck pace. It took [only a few weeks]() for the first walls to go up at the site. ## Local Opposition But the massive factory has been highly controversial from the start. Early construction plans caused local residents to [take to the streets]() in January, raising environmental concerns. Days later, German munitions experts [had to defuse]() seven unexploded World War II bombs at the site. **And r**elations between the electric car maker and the European nation took another hit in July, when a German court ruled that Tesla’s use of the term "Autopilot" for its assisted-driving technology [amounts to false advertising](). **READ MORE:** [Tesla Gigafactory Berlin set to face its biggest opposition yet as buildout continues]() \[*Teslarati*\] **More on the factory:** *[Elon Musk Teases “Indoor/Outdoor Rave Space” on Berlin Factory Roof]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()