Tesla accuses IG Metall of espionage at Giga Berlin

I won’t lie to you, when I found out what happened on February 10 at the Berlin Gigafactory, I immediately understood that this wasn’t just a minor incident. An accusation of industrial espionage launched by Tesla against IG Metall, the powerful German union, and this just three weeks before crucial elections for the works council… The situation is explosive.

To fully understand what’s at stake, we need to go back to that Tuesday when everything changed. The 11,000 employees of the Grünheide factory are in the middle of an election campaign, tensions are rising, and now a scandal erupts that could change everything. Let me tell you what’s really happening at this European factory that I’ve been observing since its opening.

A clandestine recording that ignited the powder keg

The facts are brutal and undeniable. On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, during an ordinary works council meeting, an external representative of IG Metall allegedly discreetly recorded the discussions. Not just any meeting: an official body, governed by German labor law, where sensitive issues are discussed.

Tesla’s reaction was swift. They brought out the heavy artillery: police intervention on site, seizure of a computer belonging to the suspected union member, and the filing of an official criminal complaint. Nothing less.

What struck me was the communication strategy adopted by the manufacturer. André Thierig, the Gigafactory director, chose to make the matter public via X (formerly Twitter), openly using the term “industrial espionage.” Shocking vocabulary that clearly shows Tesla does not intend to let the incident pass.

IG Metall denies everything and denounces electoral manipulation

Of course, the union wasn’t going to take it lying down. IG Metall immediately denied everything, stating that no illegal recording took place. Furthermore, the union turned the accusation back on Tesla, denouncing it as a pure electoral maneuver.

And frankly, when you look at the timing, you have to wonder. Three weeks before a crucial election, an explosive accusation that splashes union representatives… Coincidences sometimes happen at just the right time, don’t they?

This affair doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s important to know that strained relations between Tesla and unions are nothing new. Elon Musk has always been openly critical of union organizations, whether in the United States or elsewhere. At Giga Berlin specifically, there have already been strikes, environmental protests against the factory’s expansion, and tough wage negotiations.

What’s happening today is the continuation of a power struggle that has been ongoing since the German factory opened.

High-stakes elections for 11,000 employees

The electoral calendar and its implications

To understand the importance of this matter, you need to grasp what’s concretely at stake. From March 2 to 4, 2026, approximately 11,000 Gigafactory employees are called to the polls to elect their works council.

This election is not an insignificant event. In Germany, these elections are mandatory every four years, between March 1 and May 31. The previous election at Giga Berlin took place in 2024, triggered by the rapid increase in workforce during the factory’s ramp-up.

What does a works council truly represent in Germany?

If you’re French like me, the concept of “Betriebsrat” deserves some explanation. The German social model grants these councils very real powers, far from symbolic.

• Right to oversee working conditions
• Negotiating power over working hours
• Mandatory consultation on layoffs
• Participation in strategic decisions affecting employees

This is a major difference from what we know in France. The Betriebsrat is not a union, but a representative body with considerable legitimacy and legal power. Understanding this system means understanding why this matter is taking on such importance.

Tesla’s culture versus the German social model

What fascinates me about this story is that it reveals a head-on collision between two diametrically opposed corporate philosophies.

On one side, Tesla’s culture: rapid decisions, maximum flexibility, direct communication between Elon Musk and employees (often via Twitter/X), constant questioning of established processes. It’s Silicon Valley transplanted to Brandenburg.

On the other, the traditional German model: co-determination, mandatory collective bargaining, structured and often lengthy decision-making processes, strong protection of social achievements. It’s a system that has proven itself for decades.

The concrete frictions at Giga Berlin are numerous:

• Tesla wants aggressive production rates; German law imposes strictly regulated working hours
• The manufacturer wants to make decisions quickly; the works council must be consulted
• The factory’s expansion clashes with local environmental concerns
• Wage negotiations reveal different expectations regarding remuneration

Giga Berlin is not just another car factory. It’s a social laboratory where two visions of work clash daily.

What are the consequences for European production?

Beyond the media buzz, this affair could have very concrete impacts on what interests me (and probably you too): Tesla’s ability to produce vehicles in Europe.

The social climate risks becoming seriously strained. Whether the espionage accusation is founded or not, mistrust between management and employees will increase. The elections on March 2-4 could lead to a more combative works council, determined to assert its prerogatives in the face of what it perceives as an intimidation attempt.

The industrial consequences will probably not be long in coming. The planned ramp-up for 2026 could be slowed down. Recruiting the thousands of employees needed for expansion will be more difficult if Tesla’s employer image deteriorates. The ambitious European production targets set for this year are now uncertain.

And that’s not insignificant. Giga Berlin is not just one factory among others: it’s the only Tesla plant in Europe, the production hub for the Model Y Performance and Model 3 for the entire continent. It is in direct competition with the production challenges faced by Tesla factories worldwide, particularly the Chinese Gigafactories which are operating at full capacity.

This affair goes far beyond a simple union news item. It questions Tesla’s ability to adapt sustainably to the European social model, to find a balance between its disruptive DNA and established regulatory frameworks. The judicial outcome of the complaint, the results of the works council elections, and the response given by the competent authorities will be decisive for the future of the Gigafactory.

As current or future Tesla owners in Europe, this matter directly concerns us. It could influence delivery times, model availability, and even the manufacturer’s long-term industrial strategy on our continent. This is an affair to follow very closely in the coming weeks.