• Tesla’s tree removal is claimed to have led to a 13,000-ton rise in carbon emissions.
  • Nearly 800 protesters stormed Tesla’s German factory in May.
  • The company said it has replanted trees covering more than 450 soccer fields.

An environmental agency alleges that Tesla has chopped down around 500,000 trees since starting construction on its German Gigafactory, resulting in a 13,000-ton increase in carbon emissions. In response, Tesla claims it planted over 1 million trees in 2024 as part of a large-scale reforestation initiative.

Kayrros reports that Tesla cleared 813 acres of forest between 2020 and May 2023, the end of construction at the site. This deforestation is said to equate to driving 33 million miles (53 million km) in a single combustion vehicle or having 3,000 cars operating for an entire year.

Read: Activists Thwart Tesla’s German Gigafactory Expansion Plans With Tree Houses

Tesla’s German factory has been mired in controversy in recent years. Last month, the local environment ministry approved plans to expand the site and double production to 1 million cars annually, sparking fresh protests. In May, nearly 800 demonstrators stormed the plant

“There have been many, many instances of greenwashing in recent years,” president and co-founder of Kayrros told The Daily Beast. “The public are rightly suspicious of any kind of ‘green’ claims made by big, powerful companies… satellite imagery alone can tell us who is telling the truth.”

Tesla Chopped 500,000 Trees For German Gigafactory, Says It Replanted 1 Million
Tesla’s Germany factory/Google Maps

While it’s indisputable that Tesla had to cut down trees to build its new EV assembly plant, the carmaker says it has since planted more than 1 million trees in Germany to offset those that have been destroyed. In a July video posted to X, Tesla claimed it has replanted trees over an area equivalent to 450 soccer fields. Most of these are deciduous, with a diverse mix including hardwoods, cherry, hornbeam, and lime trees.

Of course, an argument could be made that 1 million new trees won’t consume anywhere near as much harmful carbon dioxide as half a million fully-grown trees, but Tesla is at least trying to offset some of the damage it’s done.