Tesla CEO Elon Musk has termed the ongoing strike against the company in Sweden as “insane” and has highlighted potential obstacles to new car deliveries. The strike was initiated by the metal workers’ union IF Metall and gained momentum as Swedish postal workers ceased deliveries to Tesla offices and repair shops. This was due to Tesla’s reluctance to sign a collective wage agreement, prompting a widespread work stoppage.
Reports suggest that the strike might extend to the point of impeding new Tesla deliveries, as license plates for these vehicles are typically distributed via mail carrier Postnord, the same carrier affected by the strike. Elon Musk, responding to the matter on social media, expressed his thoughts with a simple statement: “This is insane.” Swedish Transport Agency representative Mikael Andersson confirmed that new number plates will be delivered through Postnord.
The strike, which started on October 27, initially involved 130 mechanics at 10 Tesla repair shops in seven cities. Subsequently, the strike expanded to include other repair shops servicing Tesla and other auto brands. Additionally, dock workers joined the strike, refusing to unload Tesla cars at Swedish ports.
In solidarity with IF Metall, nine additional unions announced “sympathy measures,” although some Swedish media outlets have reported limited impacts so far. Tesla has explored alternative delivery methods, such as transporting new cars by road, to maintain its operations.
In other news, Tesla has introduced congestion fees at crowded Supercharger sites to manage traffic and prevent unnecessary occupancy. This move replaces the previous idle fees and penalizes owners for continuing to charge their vehicles beyond a 90% state of charge. With notifications through the Tesla app, it alerts owners and gives them a five-minute window to unplug and avoid congestion charges.
Overall, the strike in Sweden has led to significant disruptions in Tesla’s operations, and Tesla continues to seek alternative delivery methods in response to the ongoing labor action.
