German police and intelligence have launched an investigation into a 'heil' at Tesla's German factory, which activists claim to be behind.
German police have launched an investigation into a 'Heil' that was lit up at Tesla's factory on the outskirts of Berlin this week.
The action took place at the factory in Grünheide, Brandenburg, and was carried out by two activist groups calling themselves 'Germany's Center for Political Beauty' and 'Britain's Led by Donkeys'.
The projection's light wrote the text "Heil Tesla" next to the company's logo on the factory facade. The incident has attracted attention and prompted an investigation by German authorities.
The police initially denied that the projection had taken place. It was described as possibly manipulated material, and several pointed to the use of AI to produce the images.
However, after activists released additional documentation, including videos, the police acknowledged that it may have taken place. The investigation will clarify whether symbols or messages that are illegal in Germany were used.
According to the activists, the light projection lasted about an hour and a half. The fact that the action was successful at all has made the activists question the safety of the factory. It is also surprising that no one at Tesla responded to the provocation.
– It is disturbing that a factory of this size does not detect such an act, a representative from the Center for Political Beauty told the German media Der Spiegel .
Activists have also criticized Elon Musk for contributing to the “normalization” of extremist ideas.
The projection also included an image of Musk in a pose that was compared to a Hitler salute. Although prosecutors have not filed charges against Musk personally, they are investigating whether the action can be interpreted as spreading illegal messages.
Those responsible for the projection describe it as political art and claim that the intention was to highlight Musk's alleged connections to extreme political circles.
– We want to reveal how a person with significant influence can help spread extreme movements, says the Center for Political Beauty.
Critics, however, warn that the action could create misunderstandings and exacerbate polarization in public debate. They believe that this type of protest could risk overshooting the mark and creating more conflict than dialogue.
Tesla has declined to comment on the activists' rampage. But the Brandenburg factory has been the subject of protests in the past, mostly related to environmental issues. This incident, however, is different in that it focuses on social and political issues.
At the same time, Elon Musk has created further debate with a comment on his platform X. Here he shared a post with a Nazi pun. Something that got a number of critics on their toes. Many see it as inappropriate in light of the incident at the Tesla factory.
