Tesla Giga Berlin Head Slams Media for 'False' Union Claims

Tesla’s German management has sharply criticized local media, alleging that a prominent outlet is spreading a coordinated campaign of "false information" aimed at the company’s European manufacturing hub.

André Thierig, Senior Director of Manufacturing at Gigafactory Berlin, recently posted on LinkedIn to "set the record straight" about a report from the German publication Handelsblatt. The report said the factory produced 149,000 Model Ys in 2025, which Thierig disputes. According to him, Giga Berlin built over 200,000 vehicles in 2025 despite a temporary pause early in the year to reconfigure manufacturing lines for the new Model Y.

Setting the Production Record Straight

Thierig also rejected the notion that the plant is in crisis, saying output increased each quarter in 2025 compared to the prior one. He added that Tesla is planning a further production increase in the first quarter of 2026.

"The Handelsblatt degenerates into the mouthpiece of IG Metall," Thierig wrote, alleging efforts to "create fear and uncertainty among the workforce and thus influence voter behavior". He also criticized a claim that Tesla’s profit margin was just 0.74%, attributing the figure to their "secret 'arithmetic skills'".

The Backstory: Tesla vs. IG Metall

This clash fits into a broader struggle between Tesla’s fast-moving, non-unionized American tech culture and Germany’s deeply rooted labor union tradition.

IG Metall currently represents the largest coalition on the Giga Berlin works council but lacks an outright majority. With elections for a new council scheduled for early March, tensions are high. Elon Musk recently told employees he would approve massive expansions for Giga Berlin and even bring Semi, Optimus, and Cybercab production to the factory — but only if they vote to keep external organizations like IG Metall from steering the company in the "wrong direction".

Tesla is also currently embroiled in a labor dispute in Sweden with IF Metall (a completely separate labor union and not to be confused with Germany’s IG Metall), showing that the company’s anti-union stance is a core part of its European strategy.

Why the Sentiment?

Thierig argues the negative coverage serves two aims: supporting the union agenda and driving clicks. "Scandals in connection with Tesla click great," he said, calling the coverage "campaign journalism" intended to generate income from sensationalism.

As Giga Berlin workers prepare to vote next week, the stakes are significant. Tesla is presenting the opportunity to build the future of robotics and autonomy in Germany if employees choose the "Tesla way" over traditional union representation. Whether this public challenge will sway the outcome remains to be seen.