&w=3840&q=100)
'Thank you for the ride': Denmark firm ends Tesla use over Musk's politics
In a statement titled 'Tscherning changes gears and drives in a new direction', posted on LinkedIn, the company said the decision reflects its values and not the performance of Tesla's cars.
'At Tscherning, we not only decide how we drive, but also who we drive with. That's why we've chosen to hand over the keys to our Tesla company cars – not because Tesla has become a bad car, but in light of Elon Musk's political commitment and the opinions he has publicly expressed, which are increasingly hard to overlook,' the company said.
'We as a company have chosen to say, 'Thank you for the ride,'' it added.
From electrification to exit
'We do not want to be associated with the values and political direction that currently accompany the Tesla brand. Therefore, we have chosen to replace our Tesla cars with the European alternatives,' the company said.
A video shared by Tscherning shows the fleet being returned.
Social media support, growing backlash in Europe
The move was widely lauded online. One user commented, 'Strong signal to support European production.' Another wrote, 'If nothing else – lots of signal value.'
This isn't the first time a European company has distanced itself from Tesla over Musk's politics. In 2023, German retail chain Rossmann said it would stop buying Teslas for its corporate fleet due to Musk's support for US President Donald Trump.
'Elon Musk makes no secret of his support for Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly called climate change a hoax – this stance is in stark contrast to Tesla's mission to contribute to environmental protection through the production of electric cars,' said Raoul Rossmann, the son of the founder.
Rossmann, which employs over 62,000 people and operates 4,700 stores in Europe, said it would continue using its existing Tesla vehicles 'for reasons of sustainability and resource conservation.'
(With agency inputs)
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4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on ‘Axis of Resistance', EU, Equator Prize 2025 and more (Week 123)
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Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. (Source: Which of the following countries, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has launched a new initiative to improve food security, boost rural livelihoods, and help Afghan communities better withstand climate and economic shocks? (a) United Kingdom (b) United States (c) Russia (d) India Explanation — The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the UK government have announced a new effort to promote food security, boost rural livelihoods, and assist Afghan people in better coping with climate and economic shocks. — Over the next ten months, the FAO's Resilient Agriculture Livelihoods (ReAL) project will impact over 151 000 people (21 572 households) in 15 provinces across Afghanistan's eight regions. 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It is a disputed territory primarily between: (a) China and Vietnam (b) China and the Philippines (c) Malaysia and Indonesia (d) Indonesia and Brunei Explanation — China's military said it monitored and 'drove away' a U.S. destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, while the U.S. Navy said its action was in line with international law. — The first documented US military operation in at least six years within the shoal's waters occurred the day after the Philippines accused Chinese boats of 'dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference' during a supply mission around the atoll. — Scarborough Shoal is a disputed region, principally between China and the Philippines. The shoal is situated in the South China Sea and is claimed by both countries. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. Consider the following international organisations/forum 1. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 2. Quadrilateral Security Dialogue 3. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 4. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Which of the above groupings include India as a member? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Explanation — Prime Minister Narendra Modi was likely to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' meet in Tianjin, China. The grouping includes nine member nations, including India, China, Pakistan and Russia. — Scholars in China have also questioned India's commitments in both the SCO and BRICS (including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), stating that PM Modi attended just three of the last ten SCO leaders' meetings. — They have also pointed to the June meeting in Qingdao for the SCO Defence Ministers, where Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, and refused to sign the SCO joint statement. — India being a member of the SCO and the US-led QUAD security dialogue (with Australia and Japan). — India is not a part of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Operation 'Midnight Hammer' is: (a) a covert Russian operation during the Cold War to tunnel under Alaska. (b) a joint military offensive by Brazil and Argentina during the Falklands War. (c) a cyberwarfare campaign by Israel during the war with Iran. (d) a United States led attack on nuclear facilities in Iran. Explanation — 'Operation Midnight Hammer' is the codename given to the US's precision strikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities, which marked a dramatic escalation in the Middle East and plunged US-Iran relations to their lowest point since the Iranian Revolution. — The covert operation involved over 125 aircraft and deception tactics, and the fleet included seven B-2 stealth bombers, the press briefing revealed. The US strike targeted three of Iran's most sensitive nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Consider the following pairs: 1. 'axis of evil' — refers to Iran, Iraq and North Korea 2. 'axis of resistance' — refers to a coalition of Iranian-backed groups Which of the above given pairs is/are correctly matched? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — A coalition of Iranian-backed groups is known as the 'axis of resistance'. Hezbollah, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Houthis are some of the major groups in the alliance. — The roots of the 'axis of resistance' go back to the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which paved the way for radical Shia Muslim clerics to come to power. To expand its political and military influence in a region where most powers — such as US-ally Saudi Arabia — are Sunni-majority nations, Iran's new regime began to support non-state actors. Another reason for this was to deter threats from Israel and the US — Iran has seen Israel's creation in 1948 as a means for the US (and the West) to influence the region for its strategic interests. — The coalition's name is said to be inspired by former US President George W Bush's use of the term 'axis of evil' — referring to Iran, Iraq and North Korea — in his 2002 State of the Union address. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 122) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. 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