IG Metall Suit and 14 Robotaxi Crashes Raise Tesla Execution Risks
IG Metall filed criminal defamation charges and seeks an injunction against Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory manager, and U.S. filings report five January Robotaxi crashes, raising total to 14 since mid-2025—about one per 57,000 miles. Investor Ross Gerber warned focus on autonomy and robotics has hurt brand perception and may dampen demand.
1. German Union Files Defamation Complaint
IG Metall has lodged a criminal defamation complaint against the manager of Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory and is seeking a court injunction to stop further remarks, while preparing a separate case over alleged obstruction of union work at the European plant.
2. U.S. Robotaxi Safety Record Deteriorates
Five additional crashes involving Tesla’s supervised Robotaxi fleet in Austin were filed for January, bringing the total to fourteen since mid-2025—roughly one collision every 57,000 miles, several times worse than the accident frequency cited for human drivers.
3. Brand Perception Challenge
Investor Ross Gerber criticized Tesla’s shift from mass-market EVs to autonomy and robotics, saying the strategy has turned the brand negative, which could undermine consumer confidence and long-term vehicle demand.
4. Technical Indicators Show Near-Term Weakness
Tesla shares trade 4.3% below their 20-day moving average and 6.1% under the 100-day SMA, with a neutral RSI and bearish MACD suggesting mixed momentum; key resistance stands at $452.50 and support at $387.50.