Tesla, the largest electric car manufacturer, has received approval from Germany’s Federal Environment Agency for its Gigafactory in Berlin’s Gruenheide district.
For the time being, however, the approval is still subject to conditions, as the carmaker still has to fulfill a number of requirements before approval can be granted. According to the authorities, the first electric cars could be produced as early as in a few weeks.
In the past, the permit had been repeatedly postponed because Tesla had submitted other applications, such as for the construction of a battery factory. In addition, environmentalists have criticized the construction of the factory because they considered the water supply to be at risk. Part of the land on which the Gigafactory is located is in a water conservation area. Tesla, as an environmentally conscious company, has denied the criticisms and has been able to mitigate the planned water intake.
The Gigafactory is expected to later employ 12,000 people and produce up to 500,000 cars per year.