Tesla Sweden has mostly stayed quiet during trade union IF Metall’s strike. That is, at least, until recently, when Tesla Sweden Market Lead Jens Stark spoke with Dagens Industri about the electric vehicle maker’s current operations and the effects of IF Metall’s ongoing strike.
While some media reports have framed a narrative that is mostly centered on IF Metall’s talking points in the conflict, Stark noted that Tesla is working very closely with its employees. And so far, the Tesla Market Lead noted that the electric vehicle maker’s employees are operating as one strong team.
“We work very closely with our employees. We have just had a digital information meeting where we have asked how everyone is doing and they can also write in questions. No one asks about collective agreements. However, they want to know how they can help with different solutions in this situation,” Stark noted.
For the very first time since the strike against Tesla in Sweden started almost 5 months ago, Swedish Tesla manager speaks to media!!
This debunks all the lies IF Metall have told you since October!
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No one asks about collective agreements"
Tesla's Swedish manager after… https://t.co/lYpwjaR04Q pic.twitter.com/0kqiQ0ASNr— Nicklas ???T???♻️? (@NicklasNilsso14) March 17, 2024
Tesla Sweden has been struck not just by IF Metall. It has also been struck by sympathy strikes from the trade union’s allies. These sympathy strikes have made things more challenging for Tesla, but the electric vehicle maker has mostly found workarounds so that it could continue its operations. These workarounds have become a big reason why Tesla and IF Metall’s conflict still has no end in sight.
As noted by Dagens Industri, IF Metall’s strike against Tesla started on October 27, 2023. Thus, the protests against the electric vehicle maker have been going on for nearly five months now. That’s the longest labor market conflict in Sweden since the 1940s. Stark, however, noted in his interview that the conditions of Tesla Sweden’s employees are already comparable to those whose companies have a collective agreement.
“We know that there is a strong correlation between satisfied employees and company success, which is why we put so much effort into benefits and compensation. But also how you can grow in the company and that everyone gets shares. We place a lot of importance on our employees, contrary to the stigma that the union wants to put on us. Otherwise, over 90 percent would not have been at work,” he said.
Tesla has so far been successful in its efforts to continue its operations despite the efforts from IF Metall and its allies. The Tesla Model Y became Sweden’s best-selling car in 2023, and the company saw a sales increase of 120%. Tesla Sweden’s stellar performance in 2023 meant that the EV maker captured a 7% market share in Sweden. And while this market share has dropped to 5% during the first two months of the year, Tesla Sweden is confident that 2024 will be yet another good year.
“Yes, but at the same time we have grown by over 100% compared to the previous year. For us, March is an important month for deliveries. We feel confident that we will have Sweden’s best-selling car when we sum up the year,” Stark said.
The Tesla Sweden Market Lead’s full interview can be viewed here.
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Elon Musk
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” Musk said.
Tesla is preparing to expand its all-electric Semi truck program to Europe, with CEO Elon Musk indicating that the Class 8 vehicle could arrive in the region 2027.
Musk shared his update during an interview about Giga Berlin with plant manager André Thierig, which was posted on X by the official Tesla Manufacturing account.
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” he said.
Tesla has already begun limited production and customer deployments of the Tesla Semi in the United States, with the company working to scale output through the Semi factory near Giga Nevada. Considering Musk’s comments, it appears that a European rollout would be the next phase of the vehicle’s expansion beyond North America.
Musk’s use of the word “hopefully” leaves room for flexibility, but the remark signals that Europe is next in Tesla’s commercial expansion plans.
Musk has consistently argued that electrification should extend beyond passenger vehicles. During the same interview, he reiterated his view that “all ground transport should be electric,” adding that ships, and eventually aircraft, would follow.
The Semi plays a central role in that strategy. Heavy-duty freight remains one of the most emissions-intensive segments of road transport, and European regulators have increasingly pushed for lower-emission commercial fleets.
Tesla recently refreshed the Semi lineup on its official website, listing two variants: Standard and Long Range. The Standard trim offers up to 325 miles of range with an energy consumption rating of 1.7 kWh per mile, while the Long Range version provides up to 500 miles, which should be more than ample for European routes.
Elon Musk
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said.
Tesla could add the Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot to the production lineup at Giga Berlin, as per recent comments from CEO Elon Musk.
During a recent interview with Giga Berlin plant manager André Thierig, Musk identified the Cybercab as the most likely next major product for the German factory, with Optimus potentially following after.
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said. He added that there are also “possibilities of Tesla Optimus” being produced in the facility.
Tesla has already begun production of the Cybercab in Giga Texas, with volume production expected to ramp this year. Based on Musk’s comments, it appears that if conditions align in Europe, Giga Berlin could eventually join that effort.
The CEO’s comments about Optimus coming to Gigafactory Berlin are quite unsurprising too considering that Musk has mentioned in the past that the humanoid robot will likely be Tesla’s highest volume product in the long run.
Giga Berlin will likely be able to produce mass volumes of Optimus, as the Model S and Model X lines being converted to an Optimus line in the Fremont Factory are already expected to produce 1 million units of the humanoid robot annually.
Apart from his comments about the Cybercab and Optimus, Elon Musk also confirmed that Giga Berlin has started ramping battery cell production and will continue expanding Model Y output, particularly as supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) gains regulatory approvals in Europe.
Taken together, the remarks suggest Berlin’s role could evolve beyond vehicle assembly into a broader multi-product manufacturing hub, not just a regional Model Y plant.
Energy
Tesla Powerwall distribution expands in Australia
Inventory is expected to arrive in late February and official sales are expected to start mid-March 2026.
Supply Partners Group has secured a distribution agreement for the Tesla Powerwall in Australia, with inventory expected to arrive in late February and official sales beginning in mid-March 2026.
Under the new agreement, Supply Partners will distribute Tesla Powerwall units and related accessories across its national footprint, as noted in an ecogeneration report. The company said the addition strengthens its position as a distributor focused on premium, established brands.
“We are proud to officially welcome Tesla Powerwall into the Supply Partners portfolio,” Lliam Ricketts, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at Supply Partners Group, stated.
“Tesla sets a high bar, and we’ve worked hard to earn the opportunity to represent a brand that customers actively ask for. This partnership reflects the strength of our logistics, technical services and customer experience, and it’s a win for installers who want premium options they can trust.”
Supply Partners noted that initial Tesla Powerwall stock will be warehoused locally before full commercial rollout in March. The distributor stated that the timing aligns with renewed growth momentum for the Powerwall, supported by competitive installer pricing, consumer rebates, and continued product and software updates.
“Powerwall is already a category-defining product, and what’s ahead makes it even more compelling,” Ricketts stated. “As pricing sharpens and capability expands, we see a clear runway for installers to confidently spec Powerwall for premium residential installs, backed by Supply Partners’ national distribution footprint and service model.”
Supply Partners noted that a joint go-to-market launch is planned, including Tesla-led training for its sales and technical teams to support installers during the home battery system’s domestic rollout.
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
