Tesla CEO Elon Musk has weighed in on the ongoing strike against the company in Sweden, expressing his view that the situation was "insane" and highlighting potential obstacles to new car deliveries.
According to AFP, the strike, initiated by the metal workers' union IF Metall, gained momentum as Swedish postal workers ceased deliveries to Tesla offices and repair shops. The primary contention stemmed from Tesla's reluctance to sign a collective wage agreement, prompting a widespread work stoppage.
This photo taken on November 7, 2023 shows cars at the port of Malmo, Sweden as port workers block the loading of vehicles from US electric car giant Tesla during a strike. Workers at four Swedish ports blocked the loading and unloading of Tesla cars on November 7 in a growing strike movement over the US company's refusal to sign a collective wage agreement with mechanics.
Elon Musk Says 'This Is Insane'
Reports from the financial newspaper Dagens Industri suggested 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 a user's post on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressed his thoughts on the matter with a simple statement: "This is insane." Swedish Transport Agency representative Mikael Andersson confirmed that new number plates will be delivered through Postnord.
He clarified that the agency is obligated to use this carrier under a procurement contract negotiated by the Swedish Legal, Financial, and Administrative Services Agency, covering all government agencies. According to IF Metall, 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. According to the Associated Press, dock workers also joined the strike, refusing to unload Tesla cars at Swedish ports.
Other Swedish Unions Announce 'Sympathy Measures'
In solidarity with IF Metall, nine additional unions, including the Swedish Union for Service and Communications Employees (Seko) and the Swedish Building Workers' Union, have announced "sympathy measures."
However, AP noted that some Swedish media outlets had reported limited impacts so far, and IF Metall accused Tesla of systematically using strikebreakers to undermine the labor action. Determined to maintain its operations, Tesla has explored alternative delivery methods, such as transporting new cars by road.
In another recent 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 alert owners and gives them a five-minute window to unplug and avoid congestion charges.
Currently, the congestion fees are limited to Tesla Supercharging stations in the United States, targeting those experiencing high traffic, with specific details undisclosed by the company.
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