Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla encountered challenges in Scandinavia this week, experiencing setbacks in both Sweden and Norway. In Sweden, a court reversed a prior legal win, withdrawing a temporary injunction that had permitted Tesla to pick up license plates for its vehicles. This development follows a dispute with the Swedish union, IF Metall, which commenced in October when mechanics represented by the union initiated a strike. The union argued that Tesla’s refusal to sign a collective agreement with its workers went against established business practices in the country, garnering support from other unions in Sweden.
In November, Swedish dockworkers ceased handling vehicles imported by Tesla, a move later echoed by members of Denmark’s harbor workers’ union. Now, reports suggest that Norwegian union members are contemplating similar solidarity actions, refusing to handle Tesla models destined for Sweden. The president of Norway’s United Federation of Trade Unions emphasized the importance of collective bargaining agreements in the Nordic labor market, expressing discontent with Tesla operating outside this system.
While the Norwegian union’s actions are slated to take effect on December 20, the specific measures remain undisclosed. However, assurances have been made that Teslas bound for Norway, a prominent market for electric vehicles in Europe, will continue to be allowed into the country.
Simultaneously, in Sweden, a court overturned a legal victory previously secured by Tesla. An appeals court withdrew a temporary injunction that had granted Tesla the ability to collect license plates directly from the national issuer. This development stems from a situation where Sweden’s postal service, due to contractual obligations, only utilizes PostNord for license plate deliveries, effectively cutting off Tesla. The Transport Agency, while not officially boycotting Tesla, has faced challenges in this regard.
Tesla’s Swedish subsidiary initiated legal action, securing a temporary injunction allowing plate retrieval during ongoing legal proceedings. However, the appeals court has now revoked this privilege. The final decision on the case remains pending, reflecting the complexities Tesla faces in maintaining operations and logistics in the Nordic region.
