Canada, Germany and other countries have not 'shut down' Tesla
"Canada makes a bold decision to shut down Tesla and the U.S. auto industry," says a March 31, 2025 Facebook post.
Similar posts have used near-matching language to claim that Germany, France, Mexico and China were shutting down Tesla.
The rumors have also circulated on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and X.
Tesla offices and dealerships across North America and Europe have faced repeated protests and acts of vandalism over Musk's role at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency, which has ordered massive spending cuts and layoffs in a dramatic overhaul of the federal government.
Declining auto sales and increased competition have combined with public backlash against Musk's political activities to send Tesla's stock price sliding in the United States, leading to an unprecedented slump in the company's sales.
But despite the elevated scrutiny, none of the countries named in the posts have announced bans on Tesla.
In Canada, more than 100 people protested at a Tesla dealership in Vancouver in March. Another smaller demonstration took place elsewhere in British Columbia.
Canadian regulators also froze Tesla out of the country's electric vehicle rebate program, with Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland saying the company would not be eligible to participate until "illegitimate and illegal US tariffs" imposed by Trump are lifted.
Several provincial and territorial governments have also retaliated against Tesla in response to the heavy US tariffs levied on Canadian goods, in some cases by excluding Tesla from incentive programs supporting electric vehicle purchases.
But a spokesperson for Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the agency responsible for industry regulation and economic development, rejected the claims about Tesla being banned outright.
"The information conveyed in social media and other online outlets alleging that the Government of Canada has moved to 'shut down Tesla and the U.S. auto industry' is incorrect," Hans Parmar said in an April 2 email.
In Germany, Tesla registrations have plunged by over 60 percent compared to the first three months of 2024, and several Tesla cars have been set on fire.
However, a spokesperson for the German government told AFP in an April 1 email that any claim the country has shut down Tesla "lacks any basis."
Some posts online have linked to an article claiming Germany will shutter Tesla's Gigafactory in the capital, Berlin.
But on March 31, Tesla released images showing production ongoing at the factory. AFP found no credible reports in German media indicating that any closure of the location is imminent (archived here).
Other posts spreading on social media have claimed the French, Mexican and Chinese governments are ousting Tesla. Those allegations are also baseless.
A keyword search revealed no results from government agencies or local media indicating that environmental or economic regulators in any of the three countries have taken steps to halt or restrict sales of Tesla vehicles.
Local French media have continued to report on Tesla sales into April, including early data showing a slump in vehicle registration in the country. Mexican media outlets similarly reported on a boycott against Tesla, with coverage detailing a protest at a dealership in Mexico City.
Tesla also announced that its factory in Shanghai, China produced more than 170,000 vehicles in the first three months of 2025 -- although its share of the electric vehicle market has reportedly shrunk amid competition with another top competitor.
AFP contacted Tesla and the French, Mexican and Chinese governments for comment, but no responses were forthcoming.
AFP has previously debunked other claims about Tesla.
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