Tesla is cutting 70 hectares of pine forest near its factory in the German state of Brandenburg. The electric car manufacturer wants to expand production at its location near Berlin further.
According to the American company of CEO Elon Musk, the permits for clearing the necessary land have already been obtained. However, Tesla is still working on an application for the construction work.
Already 2000 Teslas a week roll off the production line in Brandenburg. Production only started earlier this year. It is the only place in Europe where Tesla makes cars. The company wants to assemble about half a million cars a year, equating to almost 10,000 cars a week.
The German factory already employs more than 7,000 people. The aim is to increase that number to 12,000 with the planned expansion. More people may be needed later, and Tesla has also said.