French drivers sue Tesla over Elon Musk’s right-wing politics

A coalition of 10 Tesla owners in France is suing the American electric vehicle company over CEO Elon Musk's former role in the White House and support of the far right in Europe.

"They don't want to be associated anymore with Tesla or personified by Elon Musk and his recent political stances," said Ivan Terel, a partner for GKA, a Paris law firm representing the owners.

Tesla sales plummeted across Europe after Musk spoke at a rally for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in January, telling the crowd it was time for Germany to "move on" from its Nazi past, which sparked calls to boycott the EV brand.

In France alone, Tesla sales declined 67 percent in May compared to the same month in 2024, according to data from the country’s PFA registrar. The impact isn't limited to boycotts, though, with vandals targeting dealerships and individual Tesla drivers finding their cars damaged.

Several of Terel's clients are among those whose vehicles were vandalized, with one discovering a swastika painted on the side and another finding it defecated on, he said.

GKA filed the suit in the Paris Commercial Court on Wednesday, seeking to have the vehicle leases voided and for its clients to be repaid the original cost of ownership, plus other damages.

The lawsuit uses an article from the French civil code that states the seller of an item must "guarantee clients a peaceful use of the goods sold," Terel said, calling it an old law that is being used in unprecedented circumstances due to Musk's role in the White House.

Musk was a key ally of U.S. President Donald Trump in the first 100 days of his second administration, leading the American government's drive to slash federal spending. But the relationship between the two tycoons quickly soured, leaving Musk out in the cold.

A commercial court judge will decide if the case has merit and whether others can join the lawsuit in the interim. Several other Tesla owners have inquired about the case since GKA filed suit, according to Terel.