By David Sachs


Tesla had the best-selling new car in Sweden last year, where a strike by mechanics has sparked a regional labor movement against the company.

In 2023, the American electric-car company's Model Y accounted for about 16,400 of Sweden's new-car registrations, which reflect sales, according to Mobility Sweden. About 5.7% of all new cars sold in the country were Model Ys, up from about 2.3% a year ago, data from the transport industry group showed.

About 130 Tesla mechanics in Sweden began striking in October in hopes of winning wage, pension, and working-condition assurances from the company. Since then, workers across Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway have joined forces to protest Tesla, including by refusing to unload its cars at shipping ports. Truck drivers and postal workers have also joined the movement to disrupt the company's operations.

Volvo's XC-40 and XC-60 were the second and third most popular models in Sweden last year, with sales of 13,600 and 11,600, respectively. Though Tesla had the most popular model of 2023, Volvo posted around 41,300 new-car registrations compared with about 20,300 from Tesla.


Write to David Sachs at david.sachs@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-02-24 0644ET