In a significant escalation of labor tensions at Tesla’s European manufacturing hub, prosecutors in Frankfurt (Oder) have launched a defamation investigation into André Thierig, the plant manager of Giga Berlin. The probe follows a criminal complaint filed by IG Metall, Germany’s powerful metalworkers' union, marking a new chapter in the contentious relationship between the American electric vehicle giant and organized labor in Germany. This legal standoff emerges at a critical juncture, just weeks before the facility’s workforce is set to vote in the highly anticipated works council elections scheduled for early March 2026.
The conflict highlights the deepening rift between Tesla’s management and union representatives, a dynamic that has characterized the Grunheide plant since its inception. With accusations of secret recordings, police interventions, and mutual criminal complaints, the atmosphere at Giga Berlin has become increasingly charged. As approximately 11,000 employees prepare to cast their ballots, the outcome of these legal and political skirmishes could have profound implications for the future of labor relations at one of Europe’s most important automotive factories.
This article examines the details of the allegations, the dual investigations currently underway, and the broader context of the struggle for influence within Tesla’s German operations.
The Spark: Allegations of Secret Recordings
The immediate catalyst for the current legal battle was an incident that occurred during a works council meeting at the Giga Berlin facility. Tesla management alleged that an external representative from IG Metall attempted to secretly record the internal proceedings using a laptop. In Germany, the unauthorized recording of non-public spoken words is a criminal offense, a fact that escalated the situation rapidly from a workplace dispute to a police matter.
André Thierig, the plant manager who has become the public face of Tesla’s operations in Grunheide, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his outrage regarding the alleged incident. In a post dated February 10, 2026, Thierig characterized the event as a severe breach of trust and protocol.
“What has happened today at Giga Berlin is truly beyond words! An external union representative from IG Metall attended a works council meeting. For unknown reasons, he recorded the internal meeting and was caught in action! We obviously called police and filed a criminal complaint!”
Following the accusation, police were summoned to the factory premises. Law enforcement officers confirmed that they seized a computer belonging to an IG Metall member as part of their initial response. This dramatic intervention on the factory floor served as the flashpoint for the subsequent legal maneuvering, with Tesla positioning itself as the victim of corporate espionage or, at the very least, a severe violation of privacy and confidentiality laws.
Dual Investigations: Defamation vs. Confidentiality
The incident has triggered two separate but interconnected criminal investigations, reflecting the
