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.
