Tesla has to pump the brakes in Germany for now.
Tim Stevens/RoadshowTesla hasn't had the smoothest road to construction in Berlin as it preps for a new Gigafactory in Germany, and now hibernating snakes, of all things, have created another speed bump. According to a Tuesday report from local newspaper Tagesspiegel, via Reuters, a German court ordered Tesla to quit clearing a forest just outside the capital due to the reptiles' elongated nap.
Germany's state environmental agency, the Landesumweltamt, did not immediately return Roadshow's request for comment, but according to Reuters, the agency and Tesla will need to convene and assess the situation. The snakes could thwart CEO Elon Musk's goal of opening the company's first European factory by July of next year. Tesla does not operate a public relations department to field requests for comment.
This is not the first time environmentalists have moved to protect local wildlife as Tesla clears land for the upcoming factory. Back in January, Tesla entered a race against time before the start of mating season. The automaker needed to start construction of some critical portions of the plant before March to avoid interfering with animals, you know, doing their thing. Tesla also had to temporarily relocate wolves, bats, lizards and other wildlife while construction takes place. Further, the company needed to agree to cut water usage as local authorities complained that the company would drain local resources. Oh, and officials also discovered World War II-era bombs at the site, which had to be carefully removed. Like I said, it's been a rough go.
When the plant does finally come online, it will build cars locally for Europe and it could play a key role in the electric carmaker's future. Musk has recently started to talk of a new compact car to cater to Continental buyers' tastes, perhaps an electric hatchback.
