Electromobility: “Discriminatory attack”: Tesla sues the Swedish state over strikes

Tesla is running out of license plates in Sweden. Because an important supplier is on strike at the manufacturer. The electric car maker is defending itself with a lawsuit.

November 27, 2023 | by Helmut Steuer and Lars Ophüls

Tesla spoke on Monday of a “discriminatory attack without any legal basis”. This is a “unique attack on a company active in Sweden, carried out with the consent of the transport authorities”.

According to media reports, the authority, in turn, sees itself contractually bound to delivery by Postnord. This is the only way to ensure that the plates reach the right recipient. Postnord is owned by the Swedish and Danish states.

The approximately 130 employees at Tesla’s 17 workshops in Sweden have been on strike since the end of October. They demand a collective agreement from the North American company. The company rejects: it already offers conditions that are equivalent or even better than those provided for in the collective agreement.

Numerous unions have now called on their members to go on solidarity strikes: port workers are blocking the import of new Tesla vehicles, electricians no longer want to repair faulty charging stations. Painters no longer repair paint damage.

The dispute with powerful unions has already caused Tesla a significant loss of image.