Electric car pioneer Elon Musk picked Germany for his new factory because of Brexit, he revealed at an award ceremony in Germany.
Speaking to Auto Express, he blamed Brexit uncertainty for his decision to drop plans to build a research and development base in the UK, which will now go to Germany instead.
“Brexit made it too risky to put a Gigafactory in the UK. Some of the best cars in the world are made in Germany, everyone knows German engineering is outstanding. That’s part of the reason why we’re locating our Gigafactory Europe in Germany. We’re also going to create an engineering and design centre in Berlin,” he told the magazine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed investors are ready to unfurl development plans in the UK if his Brexit deal is passed, and pledged a “clean energy revolution” in the UK if re-elected – and his affinities for Musk’s brand of innovation were underlined when his controversial chief aide Dominic Cummings openly wore an ‘Open AI’ T-shirt very early on in Johnson’s premiership. Open AI is the Silicon Valley start-up Mr Musk founded. The Conservatives have also pledged to invest £1 billion in the UK electric car industry.
“The very entrepreneur Cummings idolises has chosen not to invest in the UK because of the extreme Brexit he is pursuing. You really couldn't make it up. This completely demolishes the Johnson and Cummings Brexit fantasy and shows their deluded plans are already costing us vital investment and making the country poorer,” said Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson.