Tesla's Musk hopes to make first cars at German plant in Oct.

BERLIN -- Tesla hopes to make the first cars at its new factory in Gruenheide, near Berlin, in October or soon afterwards, CEO Elon Musk said.

Tesla has pushed back the expected opening its first European plant to late 2021, blaming German bureaucratic hurdles. The factory has also faced local public resistance due to environmental concerns.

"We're looking forward to hopefully getting the approval to make the first cars maybe in October if we are fortunate," Musk said on Friday during a visit to the factory with Armin Laschet, Germany's conservative candidate to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor.

The environmental agency in Brandenburg has yet to give final approval, meaning a further delay cannot be ruled out, even until 2022.

Laschet, whose personal approval ratings have dropped ahead of a Sept. 26 federal election after he was seen laughing on a visit to a flood-stricken town, said Germany needed to cut red tape.

"Sometimes one has the impression that inventing something new is technologically easier than dismantling bureaucracy in Germany," he told reporters, standing side-by-side with Musk.

Asked if he had any tips for Laschet to help energize his election campaign, Musk replied: "We're adding energy right now. This plant's all about energy, green energy that's sustainable."

"Hopefully ... this factory here can serve as an inspiration to people in Germany and throughout Europe for excitement about the future," Musk added.

Musk called for a periodic review of regulations at local, state, and federal level in Germany, and at EU level, to determine if they are a net benefit.

With ever-more rules, he warned, "eventually people will not be able to do anything at all."

"It cannot always be about problems every day. Do you want to wake up every morning and everything's just a problem? Musk asked. "(I want) people to be inspired about the future, and don't forget to have children - that's important."

The entrepreneur's girlfriend, pop singer Grimes, last year gave birth to the couple's son who they named X AE A-XII.