Tesla’s expansion of its Supercharger network in Sweden has been halted due to an ongoing dispute with the Swedish workers’ union IF Metall, which has kept over 100 new chargers offline. The disagreement stems from the lack of a collective agreement between Tesla and its workers, with IF Metall staging sympathy strikes in an effort to bring Tesla back to the negotiation table.
The standoff has resulted in significant congestion at the remaining operational Superchargers, with some users reporting waiting times of up to 100 meters. Tesla Charging Director Max de Zegher criticized the strikes, highlighting the impact on Swedish electric vehicle (EV) drivers. “Swedish EV drivers are suffering and EV infrastructure is not keeping up unless Superchargers get energized by the utilities blocking them from getting energized,” he said on social media, referring to the disruption of services during peak travel times like the post-holiday period.
As forecasted, Swedish EV drivers are suffering and EV infrastructure is not keeping up unless Superchargers get energized by the utilities blocking them from getting energized. Tesla Superchargers are critical infrastructure, especially for peak travel days like this. 100+…
— Max de Zegher (@MdeZegher) January 5, 2025
De Zegher reiterated Tesla’s commitment to expanding its charging infrastructure in Sweden, despite the setbacks. “Despite no clear path yet to getting turned on, we will also continue to invest and build sites for Swedish EV drivers, including more capacity in Malung, Käppen, Vansbro, Idre, Särna, and Sunne,” he added. Tesla expressed appreciation for public support as they continue efforts to bring the Superchargers online.
The union dispute, which has been ongoing since 2023, highlights broader tensions within Sweden’s EV sector. Other unions have joined the sympathy strikes, further complicating the situation. Tesla, however, remains focused on pushing forward with its infrastructure plans in Sweden, emphasizing the importance of the Supercharger network for EV adoption and travel efficiency.
