Anti-Tesla protestors call for gradual dismantling of Giga Berlin: “expropriate, strike, loot”

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Over the weekend, groups of Tesla protesters and supporters held events against and in support of Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. A look at the messaging in each event shows that Tesla may have its work cut out for it if it wants to convince its critics that the Grünheide-based Model Y factory is a net positive for the region.

Following the forced shutdown of Giga Berlin due to a suspected arson attack on a power pylon, Tesla employees at Giga Berlin took a stand against the company’s critics. Gathering around Giga Berlin with lights in their hands, the Tesla employees pledged to stand strong and come back from the alleged arson stronger than before. Tesla critics, for their part, organized a protest against Tesla on Sunday. 

As noted in a report from BZ, the anti-Tesla protesters on Sunday numbered about 800. The group, which was reportedly comprised of leftists, environmentalists, and masked anarchists, demanded that Tesla be stopped and Giga Berlin be demolished. Amidst Palestinian scarves, Antifa, and Kurdistan flags, some banners from the group read, “Don’t demand, fight. Expropriate, strike, loot.”

Over a loudspeaker system powered by a diesel generator, Lou Winters, who is from the Tesla den Hahn abdrehen (Turn off Tesla’s tap) group, also called for a “gradual dismantling” of the Tesla Model Y factory. Other discussions from the protesters included complaints about capitalism, colonialism, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. 

Tesla supporters, for their part, supported Tesla’s presence in Grünheide through a counter-protest. Organizer Albrecht Köhler noted during the demonstration that the community wants Tesla in the area. “We want a future with Tesla here. This is an important settlement, we can’t turn back anymore,” Köhler said.

Tesla supporter Silas Heineken noted on X that while the anti-Tesla protest was much larger than the pro-Giga Berlin counter-protest, those who attended the pro-Tesla event were almost all Grünheide residents. Participants of the anti-Tesla protests were reportedly eco-activists from all over Germany.

BZ noted that the police have so far filed some criminal charges during the anti-Tesla demonstration. Three were reportedly apprehended because they were masked, and another reportedly gave a banned Hitler salute to a group of protesters. Reports and videos also seemed to depict YouTube streamer Björn Banane and his wife and dog being attacked by protesters with sticks and other objects.

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Anti-Tesla protestors call for gradual dismantling of Giga Berlin: “expropriate, strike, loot”





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Polestar follows Tesla in departure from Australian lobby group

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Just days after Tesla exited from the largest Australian automotive lobby group — the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) — over campaigns against tightening emissions standards, another electric vehicle (EV) maker has followed in leaving the group.

Tesla announced plans to depart from the lobby group just last week, saying it was “concerned” that the group was doing things that could “mislead or deceive Australian consumers” in lobbying against stricter emissions standards. Now, Geely-owned EV maker Polestar has also announced plans to exit the FCAI, following Tesla’s lead, according to Reuters.

“The brand cannot in good faith continue to allow its membership fees to fund a campaign designed to deliberately slow the car industry’s contribution to Australia’s emissions reduction potential,” wrote Samantha Johnson, Polestar Australia Head, in a letter to the FCAI.

Volvo prepares to call it quits on Polestar

The FCAI has said that the government’s move to create the New Vehicle Efficiency Scheme (NVES) to tighten up emissions standards could increase prices and limit competitiveness in Australia, especially in the popular pickup segment. The group, which says it represents over 50 automakers, said it wouldn’t be willing to support a standard that limited consumer choice.

Tesla announced plans to depart from the lobby group by the end of Fiscal Year 2023-2024 on Thursday, stepping down from the organization’s board, after the group said NVES could lead to price increases. Meanwhile, automakers such as Toyota and Volkswagen remain a part of the group.

“Over the past three weeks, Tesla considers that the FCAI has repeatedly made claims that are demonstrably false,” Tesla wrote in its own letter to the FCAI. “Tesla is concerned that the FCAI has engaged in behaviors that are likely to mislead or deceive Australian consumers. Tesla is also concerned that it is inappropriate for the FCAI to foreshadow or coordinate whether and how competitor brands implement price changes in response to environmental regulations such as the NVES.”

The Australian government is expected to enact the new standard next year, set to penalize automakers importing emissions-heavy vehicles and reward those importing vehicles with cleaner tailpipe emissions.

Volkswagen said this week that it backs the Australian government’s plans, adding that it wants incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) to be stronger. The automaker still remains a member of the FCAI at the time of writing, though it expressed concern over Tesla and Polestar’s departures.

“Our company’s position is its own – not that of any lobby group or membership organisation,” a Volkswagen spokesperson wrote in an email on Friday.

Later on Friday, Toyota Australia said it backed the FCAI’s position, requesting that the government revisit the emissions standards and the phase-in of penalties.

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.

Polestar follows Tesla in departure from Australian lobby group





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Tesla says FSD beta subscription headed to Canada in ‘the coming weeks’

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Subscriptions for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta could be set to head to Canada soon, as highlighted by one executive from the company over the weekend.

On Saturday, Tesla Vice President of Public Policy and Business Development Rohan Patel provided an update on X about when the FSD beta could be launching in Canada, saying he expects the rollout to take place in “the coming weeks, barring any setbacks.” He also says that CEO Elon Musk has already approved the Canada update, noting that the team is currently working on technical and regulatory procedures in the country’s provinces.

The post came as a response to a question from the Teslascope account just a few weeks ago, in which the user asked if there was anything legally stopping Tesla from making the FSD beta available in Canada. Teslascope said in the post that this was one of the most common inquiries it receives from its followers, with the X user receiving the question “many times a month.”

While Patel didn’t say how much the FSD beta subscription would cost, though it costs $199 per month in the U.S., or just $99 for those with Enhanced Autopilot. In Canada, the FSD beta at-purchase option costs CAD $16,000, though the ability to pay month-to-month allows owners to cancel the add-on whenever they want.

Tesla launched the FSD beta in Canada in 2022, but the option for a subscription hasn’t yet been made available. The statements also come after information about the FSD beta was spotted in Tesla owner’s manuals outside of North America last year, suggesting that the automaker could be preparing to launch the system outside of the U.S. and Canada. The company has also gained some regulatory traction for the system in Europe more recently.

Over the past few months, Tesla has also been rolling out its FSD beta v12 to select customers, ahead of a wider launch of the highly anticipated software version. Musk said last year that FSD v12 wouldn’t be beta, and many expect the version to launch soon, as it has already been rolling out to Tesla employees since November.

Tesla FSD Beta’s launch in Europe takes a potential step forward

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.

Tesla says FSD beta subscription headed to Canada in ‘the coming weeks’





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