The construction of the Tesla Gigafactory 4 on the outskirts of Berlin is closely linked to all sorts of fines and public discontent. This time, the electric car manufacturer was accused of violating the rules of recycling batteries and ordered to pay a fine of 12 million euros.
According to German law, manufacturers must dispose of used batteries in an environmentally sound manner. In other words, the manufacturer had to turn to a particular contractor who disposes of batteries on an industrial scale.
Today there is only one such company in Germany - Redux. It was not difficult to find out that Tesla did not turn to him.
German Federal Ministry of the Environment filed a complaint against Tesla, which accused it of improper disposal. Tesla reported a fine on the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The company denies all allegations, arguing that they safely dispose of all batteries. The carmaker attributes the penalty to an "administrative formality," they say, it's not about the batteries.
The Tesla plant in Grünheid, Germany, is still under construction. The works are planned to be completed by the end of 2021. Tesla will produce Model 3 and Model Y electric cars at the factory.