VW plans for electric cars: protests against battery factory in the Czech Republic

Volkswagen may want to build a battery cell factory in the Czech Republic. The government supports this and hopes for a boost in innovation. But the location is disputed.

They actually wanted to fly in for a demonstration. But there is fog over the Line airport in the west of the Czech Republic. And so more than 200 cars line the runway near Pilsen. The head of the Czech aviation association, Vaclav Vasek, speaks at the aircraft museum: “The fact is that the government’s attempt to liquidate the airport dates back to spring of this year. I found out about it through friends who flew to see me.”

Protest by airmen and local residents

Several hundred people from the surrounding area and from all over the Czech Republic followed the association’s call to protest against the airport being demolished to build a battery cell factory. It is the largest action since Volkswagen’s plans became known in April. Last week, a citizens’ initiative demonstrated in front of the German embassy in Prague.

The head of the aviation association emphasizes: “Pilsen Airport is fully functional. There are also bunkers here for a possible case of defense, which is also important. The battery factory can be in the Czech Republic. But why at Pilsen Airport?”

Broad alliance against battery factory

The airport is the fifth largest in the Czech Republic, says hobby pilot Adolf Valasek. He is a reserve for the only military airport in the Czech Republic. A security report keeps Prague under lock and key. In addition, the flight schools and the rescue service are dependent on the location. There is plenty of vacant land elsewhere.

The city of Pilsen and five neighboring communities are also against the planned battery factory. More than 11,000 people signed a petition. Dobrany Mayor Martin Sobotka criticizes the fact that local interests and concerns play no role: “So far, our governments have spoken of the Green Deal with contempt, and suddenly they want us to make a big sacrifice for the same Green Deal.”

Volkswagen relies on its own battery factories

The Volkswagen Group wants to build at least five more of its own battery cell factories in the coming years – one of them in Central and Eastern Europe. Poland and Hungary are also being discussed. The Volkswagen subsidiary Skoda is promoting the Czech Republic as a location. This is in the interest of the entire republic, says Martin Jahn from the Skoda board: “Unfortunately, we have not prepared any new strategic industrial areas in the Czech Republic in the last 20 years. Pilsen-Line is the only location where Volkswagen’s requirements are technically met can become.”

But for the mayors of Pilsen and the surrounding area, it’s less about an investment in the future and more about an ordinary chemical plant – with an enormous need for electricity and water. And that can only be covered by a third. In addition, unemployment is less than three percent. Specialists would have to be recruited and accommodated from abroad or would be poached by other local companies.

Prime Minister promotes factory

However, Prime Minister Petr Fiala has already declared the battery factory and the location to be a key project with absolute priority: “I would just like to remind you that ten percent of our gross domestic product and 25 percent of our exports are generated in the Czech Republic in the automotive industry and hundreds of companies and tens of thousands of employees associated with it. If we want the automotive industry to have a future here, we have to adapt to the changes it’s going through.”

The Czech government has announced further crisis meetings with Pilsen and feasibility studies. It remains to be seen whether the results will bring before Volkswagen decides on a location. Skoda boss Klaus Zellmer expects this later this year.