Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has warned employees at the company’s Gigafactory in Grünheide, Germany, that future expansion of the site could depend on the outcome of upcoming works council elections, according to media reports citing participants in an internal meeting.
In a pre-recorded video message played to staff, Musk cautioned that the facility should remain “free from external influences,” an apparent reference to growing union involvement. While he did not name IG Metall directly, reports by German publications Handelsblatt and Der Spiegel said his remarks were widely interpreted as directed at the union, which currently holds the largest faction in the plant’s works council but not an outright majority.
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According to participants cited by the publications, Musk suggested that stronger influence from outside groups could complicate operations and make further expansion unlikely, though he reportedly ruled out shutting down the factory. The comments come ahead of works council elections scheduled for early March at many German companies, including Tesla’s Brandenburg facility.
Relations between management and labour representatives at the plant have been tense, with debates over co-determination and union representation intensifying in recent years. Der Spiegel described the dispute as a clash between a U.S.-based technology company seeking operational flexibility and a German system that emphasises worker participation in corporate governance.
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The video message was reportedly recorded during a conversation between Musk in Austin and plant manager André Thierig, then shown to employees in Grünheide. When asked how the workforce could support Tesla’s long-term vision, Musk delivered the remarks concerning external influence and expansion prospects.
Despite the warning, Musk also praised the site and its workforce, describing the Brandenburg facility as one of the company’s most impressive production plants and highlighting what he called a strong team spirit and high operational standards.
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The discussion also addressed future projects at the factory. Musk said battery cell production has recently begun ramping up, a timeline that differs from earlier reports suggesting such activity would not start until 2027. He also indicated that increased Model Y output could follow regulatory approval of expanded supervised Full Self-Driving functions.
Looking ahead, Musk reportedly mentioned potential production of future products including the Cybercab robotaxi, the Optimus humanoid robot and the Tesla Semi truck. He said that, if regulatory approval and workforce support remain favourable, the company could consider significantly enlarging the site, potentially making it one of Europe’s largest industrial complexes.