More than 60 percent of the residents of the community of Grünheide took part in the citizens' vote to expand the Tesla factory. Tesla wants to expand its 300-hectare factory site by around 170 hectares in order to build a freight yard, warehouses and a company kindergarten.
To achieve this, more than 100 hectares of forest will be cleared. There have been protests against expansion for several months - but supporters are also speaking out. Transport Minister Rainer Genilke warned that the plans would fail.