Musk Warns Berlin Gigafactory Expansion Could Face Obstacles, Citing Need to Be "Shielded from External Influence"

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently stated in an internal video that if the company’s Berlin Gigafactory cannot maintain an operational environment “free from external interference,” its future expansion plans would be difficult to advance. His remarks were widely interpreted as targeting Germany’s metalworkers’ union, IG Metall, which currently holds the largest faction on the factory’s works council but does not command a majority. Works council elections are scheduled for early March, placing labor relations in a sensitive period. Although Musk did not mention closing the factory, he emphasized that union influence could undermine Tesla’s operational flexibility in Germany. He also praised the Berlin plant as “one of the most advanced factories in the world.” Additionally, Musk revealed that battery cell production at the Berlin facility has already begun ahead of schedule and confirmed that the Tesla Semi electric truck will enter the European market next year. He indicated that the Cybercab is the most likely candidate to become the next major model produced at the plant, and noted the possibility of local production of the Optimus humanoid robot in the future.