Hundreds Protest Expansion of Tesla Plant in Germany

Local residents and environmental groups complain the site would damage the land and disrupt wildlife

Tesla Germany protests
Environmental activists protest near a Tesla plant in Germany on Saturday. They say an expansion of the plant would damage the countryside. Axel Schmidt/Getty Images

Activists continued to protest a Tesla factory in Germany Saturda amid concerns that an expansion of the electric-car maker's plant would damage the surrounding countryside, according to several reports.

The demonstrations at the factory outside Berlin in the town of Gruenheide were expected to continue through the weekend, Bloomberg reported.

At least 16 people were arrested Friday after protesters broke into an airfield, damaged Tesla cars and blocked a road by the factory, the report said, citing local police. About 800 people took part in the demonstrations.

A number of people were injured, including 21 police officers.

Local residents and environmental groups have opposed the expansion of the factory and have mounted legal challenges against it, claiming the new site would use too much water and threaten wildlife.

"We are here today to draw attention to the Tesla factory in Grunheide for the environmental destruction here," Disrupt Tesla spokesperson Ole Becker told Reuters.

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Tesla, Germany
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