French drivers sue Tesla over claim Musk made cars ‘extreme Right' symbols
A group of French drivers are suing Tesla, claiming that Elon Musk has turned their cars into totems of the 'extreme Right'.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of 10 drivers in Paris says the perception the vehicles have become political symbols 'prevents them from fully enjoying their car'.
It is the latest example of a backlash against Mr Musk for his support of Donald Trump in the US.
'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,' said law firm GKA in a statement.
The French drivers suing Mr Musk's company are demanding that their leases be terminated and that their legal fees are repaid.
Most of the leases run for four years, with an option at the end to buy the vehicle.
Tesla's sales in the European Union have almost halved since the beginning of the year, a slump attributed by some analysts to Musk's political activities – but also the company's ageing line-up of cars.
Before last week – when he acrimoniously broke with Mr Trump over the president's 'one big beautiful bill' – Mr Musk had described himself as the US president's 'first buddy', providing large donations to his election campaign and serving in his government to help establish the department of government efficiency (Doge).
This and the cuts to US international aid that Doge has pushed through have provoked controversy among the Trump administration's opponents. Mr Musk also triggered an outcry at Mr Trump's inauguration with a hand gesture that resembled a Nazi salute.
The billionaire has repeatedly insisted he was signalling 'my heart goes out to you'.
However, his intervention in German politics to support the far-Right Alternative for Germany party, which has been classified by the country's security services as 'extremist', has also provoked criticism in Europe.
In France, prosecutors are investigating an arson attack on a Tesla dealership near the southern city of Toulouse that left eight vehicles burned out and four badly damaged.
Activists have branded Teslas 'swasticars', with the actor Alex Winter – best known for playing Bill Preston in the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure – running a campaign urging people to 'sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines'.
Some owners have also placed stickers on their Teslas reading: 'I bought this before Elon went crazy'.
Patrick Klugman, one of the lawyers working on the French case, told Agence France-Presse: 'The situation is both unexpected and impossible for French Tesla owners.
'Musk's political positions have interrupted enjoyment' of the vehicles, and 'we believe that Mr Musk owes these buyers the peaceful possession of the thing sold', he added.
Tesla has not commented on the case.
It came as Mr Musk apologised to the US president for posting incendiary comments on social media that called for him to be impeached and claimed he was named in the Epstein files.
'I regret some of my posts about president @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,' Mr Musk wrote on Wednesday morning.
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