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On May 10, German police confronted environmental activists at Gigafactory Berlin where protesters angry about Tesla’s plans for a major expansion of the complex tried to break into the plant, according to a statement from local police.

“Multiple unauthorized people are trying to enter the grounds of the Tesla factory,” Brandenburg police said via X Friday. “We are in the process of preventing this.”

“The situation is dynamic,” a Brandenburg police spokesperson said, adding that there had been multiple roadblocks in the area due to the demonstrations.

Since Monday, May 6, a camp had been set up near the Tesla grounds, with participation increasing since Wednesday and peaking on a German bank holiday Thursday, police said.

The protest gatherings were planned for Friday, one stationary near the Tesla factory grounds and another involving a procession from the camp, according to the Brandenburg police.

However, disruptions ensued, including attempts to breach the Tesla premises and sit-in blockades on roads, leading to roadblocks.

Protesters also occupied a nearby airfield in the Neuhardenberg municipality, lighting pyrotechnics and blocking access roads, according to the police.

Police intervened, leading to multiple arrests and instances of force, after bringing in support from neighboring states and national forces.

Tesla had instructed its workers to stay home rather than come into the factory on Friday due to the planned protests in a “one-day planned production shutdown.”

(multiple sources on May 10, 2024)

On May 10, Zeekr Intelligent Technology Holding Limited shares opened nearly 24% above their IPO price in a strong start for the EV maker, the first major U.S. market debut by a China-based company since 2021.

Zeekr's stock opened at USD 26.00, compared with its IPO price of USD 21.00, and was at USD 28.26 by close of the trading day.

The company was seeking to raise USD 441 million through the sale of 21 million American depositary shares (ADSs).

Zeekr is valued at a fully diluted valuation of USD 6.8 billion, or about half the USD 13 billion evaluation it reached after a funding round in 2023.

"Zeekr is a global brand, and choosing to list in New York further demonstrates its global capabilities," said CEO Conghui An, who is also the president of Zeekr's parent company, Geely Holding Group.

Its first day of trading comes ironically as U.S. President Joe Biden's administration plans on boosting tariffs on Chinese vehicle imports to the U.S.

Zeekr was formed in 2021 and has since delivered nearly 200,000 cars mostly in China, according to its IPO filing.

Zeekr’s CEO said Geely aspires to become the Volkswagen Group of this era of new energy vehicles, and Zeekr's mission is to address the luxury EV market segment.

(Zeekr release and multiple sources on May 10, 2024)

On May 10, Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA) announced two significant investments at its headquarters complex on Swan Island, a new engineering facility at the DTNA campus and a new Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) training center adjacent to Electric Island.

The new DTNA engineering facility will be approximately 110,000 square feet and will consolidate testing activities under one roof with focus on R&D for emerging propulsion technologies, such as battery electric and hydrogen-fueled vehicles. 

The project is anticipated to cost USD 40 million and will be partially funded by the State of Oregon with a USD 700,000 forgivable loan from the State’s Strategic Reserve fund.

The new USD 3 million EVSE training center adjacent to Electric Island represents the next phase to accelerate testing and development of charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles since the first-of-its-kind public charging station was built in partnership with Portland General Electric and opened in 2021.

Also located on Swan Island is the Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant, which has been in continuous operation since 1969 and currently produces the battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia and eM2 as well as the Western Star X-Series. 

(Daimler Truck press release on May 10, 2024)