WWII-era ammunition found at Tesla gigafactory site

Officials in Germany say 85 kilograms (187 pounds) of World War II ammunition have been discovered on the site where Tesla prepares to build its first factory in the entire continent.

Local newspaper Maerkische Oderzeitung quoted authorities in Brandenburg on Wednesday saying that they estimate about 25 unexploded bombs could be discovered at the partially wooded site on the outskirts of Berlin, the country’s capital.

Many of the thousands of unexploded bombs had been dropped over Nazi Germany by American, British and Russian forces remain undiscovered even after over 75 years of the end of the war.

This week alone, bomb squads had to evacuate portions of central Cologne and Berlin to defuse unexploded ordnance discovered during construction work in the cities.

The site for Tesla’s planned Gigafactory in Gruenheide was valued at nearly 41 million euros ($45 million) recently. The company wants to start manufacturing 150,000 electric cars a year from mid-2021, with plans to boost that number to half a million yearly.

The site has also experienced protests from the residents who allege Tesla of endangering water supply and wildlife in the location. Similarly, some residents have welcomed Tesla’s construction of the factory, saying that it will create jobs.