After two years of procedures, "Tesla" opens its first European factory in Germany

Tesla, the electric car company, celebrated the opening of its first European factory in Germany on Tuesday, after two years of administrative procedures in which it faced many legal obstacles.

Tesla opened a massive electric car factory near Berlin on Tuesday, after two years of administrative procedures and delays.

"Danke Deutschland!" tweeted company president Elon Musk after the opening, which saw the delivery of the first 30 electric cars in Germany. Which means "Thank you Germany".

The American billionaire performed a small dance during the deliveries, reviving memories of the embarrassing dance he performed during an opening party in Shanghai in 2020 that went viral online.

The opening of the plant follows an arduous two-year construction and approval process during which Tesla faced administrative and legal hurdles, including complaints from local residents about the facility's environmental impact.

Having started building on its own, Tesla finally won official approval from regional authorities to start production earlier this month.

The huge plant in Grunheide in the eastern German state of Brandenburg is Tesla's first production site in Europe, and officials hope it will help the region position itself as a hub for electric cars.

Tesla's focus on Europe comes as the old continent suffers a crisis due to high energy costs that have led to higher gasoline prices, prompting some drivers to consider electric alternatives.

But the American company was not spared the shortage of raw materials and supply chain turmoil partly related to the Russo-Ukrainian war.

"It is a special day in Germany's mobility transformation," said Economy Minister Robert Habeck, who attended the opening Tuesday alongside Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Referring to efforts to reduce dependence on Russian oil resources, Habeck said electric cars offered Germany "a new step away from oil imports".