Germans Support Tesla CEO Elon Musk's Position Against the Country's Bureaucracy, According to Survey

Photo: @gigafactory_4/Twitter

Tesla is facing bureaucracy in Germany that is significantly slowing the company's efforts to get its electric car factory up and running as quickly as possible. The company's earlier criticism and Elon Musk's comments about the state apparatus generate understanding and support among the local population, according to a survey by Civey.

About one year ago, Tesla began construction on its first European electric vehicle plant. During this time, the company has made great strides and almost completed the construction of its huge factory, however only with prior approvals. Throughout the construction process, Tesla has faced obstacles in the form of a German bureaucracy with very slow approval processes.

In early April, Tesla went to the Berlin-Brandenburg Supreme Administrative Court with the statement, criticizing the German industrial project approval system, explaining that such a protracted process is hampering the achievement of an urgent climate change goal. “The German approval framework for industrial and infrastructure projects as well as spatial planning directly contradicts the urgency to plan and realize such projects that are necessary to battle climate change,” Tesla wrote. In a statement, Tesla proposed ten steps to improve approval processes.

Tesla suggested Brandenburg the following improvements to the legal process based on its own experience with approval procedures in Germany: pic.twitter.com/N6tQBCoD3y

— Eva Fox (@EvaFoxU) April 9, 2021

During Musk's last visit to Germany in May, he gave a short interview. He expressed his thoughts that it would be better if there would be less bureaucracy in the process. “I think it would be better if there was less bureaucracy. On the other hand, more and more rules accumulate over time, and in the end, you can’t do anything,” he said.

Now, the Civey research institute has conducted a survey that showed that two-thirds (about 67%) of Germans surveyed fully understand Musk's frustration with the structure of the administrative apparatus of Germany and his impatience with what the company faces during the construction of its factory. Young respondents, as well as males, especially tend to support Musk in his position.

On the other hand, 27% of those surveyed generally agree with the approval procedures. 6% do not have a clear opinion on this matter. These data show that most of the respondents living in Germany understand the problems, and would react positively to changes that would speed up the work of the apparatus of state structures.

Supporters of the Free Democratic Party of Germany are particularly critical of the rules and lengthy procedures in the German administration. The Social Democratic Party of Germany, which traditionally also has many voters who are in the civil service, have the least complaints about the bureaucracy.

© 2021, Eva Fox. All rights reserved.

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Article edited by @SmokeyShorts, you can follow him on Twitter

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