A local council near Berlin cleared the way on Thursday for the controversial expansion of Tesla's massive electric car factory.
Under police protection after months of protests by environmental campaigners, the municipal council in Grünheide voted by a majority in favour of an amended development plan.
Eleven councillors voted in favour, six against and there were two abstentions.
But following criticism from local residents as well as campaigners, less forest is to be cut down for the expansion than originally planned.
The US company wants to expand its site to include a goods station and logistics area.
Environmental groups say the expansion is needlessly damaging and announced further protests against Tesla chief executive Elon Musk's only European car factory.
Demonstrators with placards were outside the venue of the municipal council meeting and police were deployed.
Dietmar Woidke, the state premier of Brandenburg where the factory is located, appealed to demonstrators to remain peaceful.
Following a court decision on Thursday, environmental activists do not have to immediately vacate a tree-house protest camp set up on the edge of the Tesla factory grounds at the end of February.
