Tesla's triumph over Swedish labor unions and government in battle for business.

author: FutureCar Staff    

A Swedish county court has issued a temporary injunction that allows Tesla to obtain license plates for its cars, providing some relief from an ongoing strike. The strike, which has been going on for a month, initially involved about 130 Tesla workers, but has gained support from eight other unions, potentially involving thousands of Swedish union members.

The strike has caused disruptions among postal workers, affecting the delivery of license plates to Tesla. Current regulations require the plates to be shipped through the Swedish postal service, PostNord AB. In response, Tesla filed two separate lawsuits, one calling for the transport agency to hand over license plates directly, and the other claiming that PostNord's failure to deliver mail and packages is a serious issue.

The Norrköping District Court has granted Tesla the right to receive license plates within seven days, or else face a fine of 1 million Swedish kronor. However, the process of obtaining license plates is regulated by a government ordinance, which may need to be changed depending on the outcome of the lawsuit.

Despite the injunction, the government has limited power to change ordinances related to ongoing labor market conflicts. Swedish labor unions have constitutional rights to strike and execute secondary sympathy actions, making it difficult for the government to intervene.

In addition to the strike, other actions are affecting Tesla, including a blockade by dockworkers who are refusing to load or unload the company's cars at Swedish ports. Trash pickups and electrical work at Tesla Supercharger stations are also being hindered.

Despite the ongoing labor disputes, Tesla's Model Y remains the best-selling vehicle in Sweden this year, with 14,078 registered. The company has also sold 2,600 Model 3 and Model S sedans combined through last month.

FutureCar Staff