The factory has had a clear environmental impact, with the loss of around half a million trees equivalent to 13,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
Kayrros chief analyst Antoine Halff stated, "The Tesla factory in Germany has led to quite a bit of cutting down of trees, but it has to be put in perspective against the benefit of replacing internal combustion engine cars with electric vehicles."
The forest was not pristine wilderness; it primarily consisted of non-native pine plantations that increase wildfire risks and do little for local wildlife.
Although Tesla is required by German law to replant trees, the newly planted ones will take years to mature and provide significant carbon benefits.
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