Tesla Drivers Claim Musk's Actions Make Them Appear Fascist, Hence They're Filing a Lawsuit | Carscoops

      A group of Tesla drivers in France is initiating legal proceedings against the company.

      They allege that CEO Elon Musk's recent actions have negatively impacted their reputations.

      The group contends that Teslas have developed far-right associations and they wish to terminate their electric vehicle leases.

      While most car buyers may have difficulty identifying the CEO of the company that produced their vehicle, Musk stands out as an unconventional CEO, with his opinions being highly public and contentious. This has led a group of French Tesla owners to sue the company, asserting that Musk is harming their reputations.

      The group claims that Musk's actions, which include openly supporting Germany’s far-right AfD party and his connections to former US President Donald Trump—whose presidential campaign he financially supported—have transformed Tesla's electric vehicles into representations of extremist political ideologies.

      The plaintiffs’ legal representatives at GKA stated, “Tesla vehicles have become significant political symbols and are now viewed as genuine far-right ‘totems,’ which disappoints those who acquired them merely as groundbreaking and environmentally-friendly vehicles.”

      The disgraced Tesla owners have hired GKA to assist in terminating their EV leases and to recover related legal expenses. While the group could walk away from their agreements without legal counsel, they would very likely incur substantial financial penalties.

      Sales Decline, Particularly in Europe

      This update from France arrives as Tesla's sales in the country—and throughout much of Europe—have noticeably declined in recent months. In May, Tesla sales plummeted by 67 percent in France compared to the same month in 2024, and in Sweden, there was a 54 percent drop despite the introduction of the updated Model Y, which was previously Europe’s top-selling vehicle. The only exception was Norway, where Tesla sales surged by 213 percent.

      The French lawsuit is likely to further frustrate some Tesla investors who view Musk—once celebrated as a visionary whose image contributed to sales—as now being a liability that tarnishes the reputation and performance of the company.

      Having lost the favor of left-leaning drivers who once admired his vehicles, Musk now risks alienating right-leaning prospective buyers due to his very public dispute and eventual break with President Donald Trump.

      This feud caused a decline in Tesla stock prices, though the value has slightly rebounded since Musk acknowledged that he might have gone too far with his remarks, which included claims regarding Trump’s name appearing in the Epstein files, a collection of documents associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.