Elon Musk takes on ‘dumb eco-terrorists’ after arson at Tesla Berlin factory | Maqvi News

Elon Musk has criticised the arson attack that disrupted production at Tesla’s Berlin car factory, branding it as “dumb.”

The incident, claimed by a far-left activist group named the Volcano Group, targeted the facility due to concerns over its resource and labour usage. The disruption is expected to cost Tesla a substantial amount, “in the high nine-digit Euro range,” with a delay in production likely until the following week.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Musk expressed his disdain by using the German phrase “extrem dumm” to describe the attackers as “extremely stupid” or possibly manipulated by those with misguided environmental goals.

The Volcano Group, in an online letter, asserted responsibility for sabotaging production by causing a fire near the plant, leading to power outages.

While the fire did not reach the Tesla factory itself, it damaged an electricity pylon and high-voltage wires. The group accused Tesla of resource consumption, labour exploitation, groundwater contamination, and excessive use of drinking water.

State police are currently investigating the claims made in the letter. Interior Minister for Brandenburg state, Michael Stuebgen, emphasised that the rule of law would respond to such sabotage with severity.

The controversial expansion plans for the Berlin factory, opposed by certain environmentalists due to potential tree removal, are complicating the situation. However, green activists, including the group Robin Wood, distanced themselves from the arson incident.

With around 100 people camping in a nearby forest, the Tesla factory, producing approximately 500,000 cars annually, aims to double its capacity. Plant manager Andre Thierig anticipates production resuming next week, but the financial toll of the outage is expected to be significant.