Tesla blames trade unions for charging chaos as strikes hit Sweden. Tesla cars charging at Tesla super charger electric car charging station outdoors on a sunny day.
Credit: Shutterstock, logoboom
Tesla’s global operation has hit another road bump – and this time, it’s charging stations in Sweden causing the uproar. Local media are reporting mountainous queues of more than 150 vehicles near ski resorts, with EV drivers waiting in line for hours. The blame? A fueling dispute over trade unions and Tesla’s refusal to sign a collective bargaining agreement.
Max de Zegher, a director at the electric car giant, wasted no time in pointing the finger. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Zegher slammed Sweden’s trade unions for putting the brakes on progress. “As forecasted, Swedish EV drivers are suffering, and the infrastructure is failing unless Superchargers are given the green light,” he posted.
Swedish skiers face hours-long queues as Tesla points the finger at trade unions
Queues in towns like Malung, close to the popular Sälen ski resorts, have become infamous. Aftonbladet reported that at the height of the weekend rush, the lines stretched several hundred metres, with ski-goers and locals alike waiting to plug in.
But while the public waits, Tesla’s patience has run out. According to de Zegher, “Tesla Superchargers are critical infrastructure, especially on peak travel days. 100+ stalls in Sweden would have been energised this winter if it wasn’t for sympathy strikes.”
Sympathy strikes leave Sweden in the cold
After Tesla refused to sign a collective bargaining agreement, the union called on its workers to strike. And when the first wave of workers left their posts, others followed suit – creating a ripple effect that spread across Europe like wildfire. Dockworkers, electricians, maintenance crews, and even cleaners in Sweden and neighbouring countries like Norway, Denmark, and Finland have all joined the protest.
The unions argue that Tesla’s approach is damaging to workers and, ironically, the environment. The strikes have held up deliveries of critical equipment, including electric car license plates, as well as preventing the installation of new Superchargers.
Tesla not backing down in trade union dispute
Tesla isn’t backing down. Despite the ongoing dispute, de Zegher insists Tesla will continue to invest in new charging stations, even if there is no clear path ahead. “We’re committed to building new sites for Swedish EV drivers, including increased capacity in key locations like Malung and Idre,” he said.
But for now, drivers are stuck in the slow lane, waiting for an end to the chaos.
Meanwhile, CEO Elon Musk has called the situation ‘insane.’ Whether Musk can manage to navigate these stormy waters and charge the company back to normal remains to be seen.
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