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Several Tesla customers in France are suing the electric vehicle (EV) maker run by Elon Musk, alleging that the cars have become “extreme right” symbols that are harming their reputation, the law firm representing them said this week.
Around 10 Tesla leaseholders are asking to terminate their contracts and recover legal costs at the Paris Commercial Court, saying that the cars turned into “far-right totems” following Musk’s support for Donald Trump’s presidential bid and Germany’s far-right AfD Party.
“Because of Elon Musk’s actions… Tesla-branded vehicles have become strong political symbols and now appear to be veritable extreme-right ‘totems,’ to the dismay of those who acquired them with the sole aim of possessing an innovative and ecological vehicle,” the GKA law firm said in a statement cited by French media.
The statement also referenced when the billionaire sparked outrage when he took to the stage and appeared to perform a salute affiliated with Nazis. Musk denied the gesture was a Nazi salute and described criticism as a “tired” attack.
The plaintiffs said that his actions now meant they are prevented “from fully enjoying their car”.
Tesla offers the option to lease a car and later buy it, or opt out of the lease.
Changing Tesla gears
Owning a Tesla was once a symbol of status, but the vehicles in Europe and the United States have been targeted and defaced by vandals.
Some Tesla owners have reportedly been putting stickers on their cars reading “I bought this before Elon went crazy”.
Sales of the vehicle have also plummeted since Musk entered politics.
Until last week, Trump and Musk were seemingly close allies, with Musk having supported Trump both financially and publicly during his 2024 presidential campaign.
Musk was also involved in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a drive by Trump’s administration to slash government programmes.
However, the richest and the most powerful men’s relationship came to blows very publicly after Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” which aims to fast-track policy around spending.
It has hundreds of proposed changes that would impact health care and other changes to social benefits.
Musk argued the bill’s spending would increase the “already gigantic budget deficit” and “burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt”.
Trump said that Musk knew about his plans for the bill but only opposed it when he learned it would impact Tesla.
Musk has now backpedalled on comments he made on his social media platform X that Trump should be impeached and that the president is mentioned in the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s files.
Euronews Next has contacted Tesla but did not receive a reply at the time of publication.