Is Elon Musk running out of time?

Approval process for Tesla factory is still ongoing - date open

Created: 12/18/2021, 02:22 PM

Elons Musk Tesla factory in Brandenburg cannot start production until later than planned due to the lack of permits.

(Archive) a © Hannibal Hanschke / dpa / Reuters Images Europe / Pool

Time could be running out: Tesla boss Elon Musk is hoping that his new factory can officially start testing this year.

The approval is pending - for several reasons.

Grünheide - When the new Tesla factory in Grünheide * near Berlin will be able to start production is not yet officially known.

The problem: the approval process has not yet been completed.

Tesla boss Elon Musk * had hoped when visiting a festival at the construction site of his plant in October that the first cars could roll off the production lines by December at the latest.

Is Elon Musk running out of time?

Approval process for Tesla factory is still ongoing - date open

But after the end of a digital hearing from critics, it is unclear when exactly the state of Brandenburg will decide on the environmental permit. "After the online consultation has been completed, the statements made will continue to be checked," said the Ministry of the Environment in Potsdam. "In addition, documents from the authorities and the developer Tesla * are still pending."

According to the environmental department, this involves statements from the authorities involved and Tesla's work in the area of ​​pollution control and water law. The approval process is therefore ongoing. Brandenburg's Environment Minister Axel Vogel (Greens) is not yet able to name a point in time for the decision: "In order to be able to implement this in a legally secure manner, it is also necessary that appropriate reports are available," he told Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg. "It is regrettable that not all reports are available in this quality." He could not judge how quickly this information would be given. "Therefore I cannot give a forecast as to when they will be finally checked."

So far, Elon Musk, who Time magazine has named Person of the Year 2021 *, has been building through several early approvals.

A green light is generally expected in Brandenburg, even if there might be conditions.

Because a basis for early approval is a positive forecast for the entire project.

Video: Time magazine names Elon Musk "Person of the Year"

Grünheide (Brandenburg): Elon Musk builds Tesla factory with early permits

For a few weeks now, Tesla has stopped delivering electric cars * this year.

Series production and the start of deliveries are no longer expected before the end of the year, even if vehicles are already being produced after approval has been granted, as the company said at the end of November.

Environmental groups have tried several times to overturn early permits.

Among other things, they fear problems with drinking water.

Tesla rejects this.