Tesla’s Senior Director of Policy and Business Development, Rohan Patel, responded on Wednesday to an arson attack at the Giga Berlin-Brandenburg factory that happened yesterday, emphasizing the facility’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement.
In a post on X, Patel shared insights provided by the Giga Berlin team, underscoring Tesla’s mission and the factory’s environmental accomplishments.
“Our Giga’s per vehicle production only takes 2.28 m3 of water, which is 33% less than the industry average of 3.68 m3,” Patel said, pointing out Tesla’s efficiency in resource usage. He also highlighted the factory’s recycling capabilities, stating, “We recycle up to 100% of our industrial water.”
Patel’s post also focused on Tesla’s renewable energy initiatives. “We have over 8 MW of installed solar capacity and source renewable electricity,” he noted, demonstrating Giga Berlin’s alignment with Tesla’s zero-emission goals.
The afforestation efforts around the factory were another key point in Patel’s response. “Afforestation for Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg’s current site is even faster than construction, with 300 hectares of high-quality forest planted, more than 60% of which is hardwood,” he said. He also mentioned the ecological improvements in nearby forests, making them “more diverse and therefore more resilient.”
Patel highlighted Tesla’s influence on local communities, citing how 45% of the employees commute by public transport, and the free shuttle train carries over 3000 passengers daily. “Our team at @TeslaCharging has installed over 500 wall connectors, potentially the world’s largest charging park,” he added.
The Giga Berlin-Brandenburg factory also plays a significant role in the local economy and education. “More than 12,000 people work at Giga, including 1,500 previously unemployed and ~700 long-term unemployed individuals,” Patel shared. He continued, “We partner with 13 different schools and are the biggest apprenticeship employer in Brandenburg.”
Patel concluded his posts on X with a confident message about the factory’s resilience: “The team in Grünheide is working to get the factory back online after a bunch of cowards attacked the grid. The factory will be back stronger and more united than ever – I’m sure of that.”