Tesla drivers in France are suing Elon Musk’s EV maker for becoming a ‘far-right symbol’

Published connected 13/06/2025 - 12:51 GMT+2•Updated 12:51

Several Tesla customers successful France are suing nan electrical conveyance (EV) shaper tally by Elon Musk, alleging that nan cars person go “extreme right” symbols that are harming their reputation, nan rule patient representing them said this week.

Around 10 Tesla leaseholders are asking to terminate their contracts and retrieve ineligible costs astatine nan Paris Commercial Court, saying that nan cars turned into “far-right totems” pursuing Musk’s support for Donald Trump’s statesmanlike bid and Germany’s far-right AfD Party.

"Because of Elon Musk's actions... Tesla-branded vehicles person go beardown governmental symbols and now look to beryllium veritable extreme-right 'totems,' to nan dismay of those who acquired them pinch nan sole purpose of possessing an innovative and ecological vehicle," nan GKA rule patient said successful a connection cited by French media. 

The connection besides referenced erstwhile nan billionaire sparked outrage erstwhile he took to nan shape and appeared to execute a salute affiliated pinch Nazis. Musk denied nan motion was a Nazi salute and described disapproval arsenic a “tired” attack.

The plaintiffs said that his actions now meant they are prevented “from afloat enjoying their car”.

Tesla offers nan action to lease a car and later bargain it, aliases opt retired of nan lease.

Changing Tesla gears

Owning a Tesla was erstwhile a awesome of status, but nan vehicles successful Europe and nan United States person been targeted and defaced by vandals. 

Some Tesla owners person reportedly been putting stickers connected their cars reference "I bought this earlier Elon went crazy".

Sales of nan conveyance person besides plummeted since Musk entered politics.

Until past week, Trump and Musk were seemingly adjacent allies, pinch Musk having supported Trump some financially and publically during his 2024 statesmanlike campaign.

Musk was besides progressive successful nan alleged Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a thrust by Trump’s management to slash authorities programmes.

However, nan richest and nan astir powerful men’s narration came to blows very publically aft Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” which intends to fast-track argumentation astir spending. 

It has hundreds of projected changes that would effect wellness attraction and different changes to societal benefits.

Musk based on nan bill's spending would summation nan "already gigantic fund deficit" and "burden American citizens pinch crushingly unsustainable debt".

Trump said that Musk knew astir his plans for nan measure but only opposed it erstwhile he learned it would effect Tesla.

Musk has now backpedalled connected comments he made connected his societal media level X that Trump should beryllium impeached and that nan president is mentioned successful nan activity offender Jeffrey Epstein’s files.

Euronews Next has contacted Tesla but did not person a reply astatine nan clip of publication.