In a legal drama that could rival a Nordic thriller, Tesla has taken legal action against the Swedish Transport Agency and Postnord over a deadlock in the delivery of number plates. This move comes as striking workers in Sweden disrupt the flow of vehicle registration, prompting Tesla to label it a ‘targeted, baseless, and discriminatory attack’ on the company and its stakeholders.

Tesla’s legal offensive began with a lawsuit filed at Norrköping District Court against the Swedish Transport Agency on November 27, located in the region where the agency is headquartered. A parallel case was also initiated against the Nordic postal service Postnord, this time at Solna District Court.

The essence of these lawsuits revolves around Tesla’s pursuit of access to number plates for its vehicles, a process hindered by the ongoing strikes. A court order, implementing an interim safety measure, seeks to allow Tesla to collect number plates directly from the manufacturer during the legal proceedings. Norrköping District Court has duly approved this request.

However, the Swedish Transport Agency swiftly opposed the court’s decision, citing a breach of their agreement with the supplier and emphasizing security concerns necessitating the delivery of plates exclusively through Postnord. Anna Berggrund, Director of the Vehicle Information Department at the Swedish Transport Agency, clarified that their mission is to provide license plates through procured suppliers, fulfilled by delivering plates to Postnord.

According to Dagens Industri, a prominent Swedish business publication, the district court ordered the Swedish Transport Agency to agree, within seven days, to allow Tesla to collect license plates under the risk of a hefty fine of SEK 1,000,000. This decision, as per the court’s opinion, deems the security measure proportionate.

What’s on the Horizon After the Court’s Ruling?

With the Swedish Transport Agency having a 14-day window to lodge an appeal, the district court may re-examine the matter. Today’s decision, made without hearing the opposing party, was justified by the court’s perception of a risk of delay, taking into account the ‘considerable damage’ to Tesla and its customers incurred daily.

In response to the district court’s decision, Tesla issued a concise statement expressing satisfaction, highlighting that it allows them to resume delivering new cars to their customers.

Tesla’s Non-Unionised Journey

Operating globally as a non-unionised company with around 127,000 employees worldwide, Tesla has consistently resisted calls for union formation. The number plate blockade, initiated by IF Metall, the union representing mechanics, has seen other Swedish unions introducing ‘sympathy measures’ to pressure Tesla into signing a collective agreement.

Despite their affiliation with local unions in Sweden, striking Tesla workers at IF Metall find themselves excluded from sectoral collective agreements due to the company’s firm anti-union stance. The postal blockade imposed by Seko, the postal union, has further compounded the challenges, disrupting the delivery of number plates for newly registered Tesla cars.

As this legal saga unfolds, Tesla navigates the intricate roads of Swedish regulations, unions, and legal battles. The outcome remains uncertain, and the company faces the dual challenge of upholding its non-unionised stance while ensuring a smooth process for delivering vehicles to its customers amidst the ongoing disputes.