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Elon Musk warns Tesla employees over future of German megafactory ahead of union election
Business Insider· 2026-02-27 12:07
Core Insights - Tesla's sales in Europe are significantly declining, with a nearly 38% drop in EV registrations in the EU last year, attributed to backlash against Elon Musk's political actions [7] - Musk has indicated that any potential expansion of the Giga Berlin factory is dependent on the absence of interference from external organizations, particularly in light of upcoming union elections [2][3] - The German union IG Metall is pushing to gain control of the site's work council, which is crucial for negotiating employee pay and working conditions [3][5] Group 1 - Tesla's sales in Europe fell to just 8,000 units in January, less than half of what Chinese competitor BYD sold [7] - Musk's comments regarding expansion were made ahead of a crucial vote at the Giga Berlin factory, highlighting the tension between Tesla and the union [3][4] - The union IG Metall has denied allegations of misconduct and has accused Tesla's management of defamation, indicating ongoing disputes over working conditions [6] Group 2 - Musk mentioned that Tesla expects to receive approval for its Full-Self-Driving technology in the Netherlands on March 20 [8] - The company is considering expanding its Giga Berlin facility to include production of battery cells and new vehicle models, contingent on the outcome of the union elections [1][2]