Lizards, snakes block construction on Tesla’s Berlin plant

US automaker Tesla was forced to suspend forest clearing for a new German plant Tuesday after environmentalists won an injunction over threats to the habitats of resident lizards and snakes.

The electric vehicle giant ran into opposition from two nature conservation groups which launched urgent court action against the felling of 83ha of pine trees for its huge “Gigafactory” plant at Gruenheide, south of Berlin.