German senator refers to Tesla as a ‘Nazi car’
Cansel Kiziltepe, a social democrat, has attributed a decline in Tesla’s sales to CEO Elon Musk’s “far-right positions.” A senator from Berlin has referred to Elon Musk's Tesla as a “Nazi car,” while discussing the automaker's falling sales....
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Cansel Kiziltepe, a social democrat, has attributed a decline in Tesla’s sales to CEO Elon Musk’s “far-right positions.”
A senator from Berlin has referred to Elon Musk's Tesla as a “Nazi car,” while discussing the automaker's falling sales. Kiziltepe criticized the electric vehicle manufacturer in a post on X that has since been deleted.
Musk has faced backlash in the EU for what many perceive as his right-wing political stance. In Germany, he was condemned for supporting the Alternative for Germany party, and throughout the EU, he has been scrutinized for his close ties to former US President Donald Trump, whose views on diversity and the Ukraine conflict disagree with those of Brussels.
In response, Musk has accused the EU of censorship and bureaucratic overreach, often portraying the bloc's policies as infringing upon free speech and national autonomy.
“Who wants to drive a Nazi car? Electric car manufacturers are experiencing a sales boom – apart from Tesla,” Kiziltepe, a member of the Social Democratic Party and the senator for labor, social affairs, equality, integration, diversity, and anti-discrimination in Berlin, posted on X.
The comment prompted significant backlash from officials in Brandenburg, the state that hosts Tesla's only European factory. Minister-President Dietmar Woidke described the statement as “completely out of place,” while Economic Minister Daniel Keller called for Kiziltepe to retract her remarks.
Although her post has been removed, Kiziltepe defended her stance, asserting on X that she “expressly stands” by her critique of Musk and connected Tesla’s sales decline to “the far-right positions” of its CEO.
In the first quarter of this year, Tesla saw a 13% year-on-year drop in global vehicle deliveries, with automotive revenue falling by 20% and net income plummeting by 71%.
Earlier this year, Tesla's Gigafactory near Berlin faced protests when the word “heil” was projected onto its wall alongside the company’s logo, resulting in the message “Heil Tesla.” Moreover, Musk made a gesture during a campaign event for Trump’s inauguration that was interpreted by critics as a Nazi “Sieg Heil" salute, which he dismissed as politically motivated.
The billionaire has previously expressed support for Germany’s right-wing AfD, which stands in opposition to the ruling SPD. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Musk’s affiliation with the AfD as “disgusting,” while Economic Minister Robert Habeck accused him of launching a “frontal attack” on democracy.
The AfD garnered 20.8% of the vote in Germany’s federal elections in February, making it the country’s second-largest party, with immigration and economic discontent cited as significant contributors to its success.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
A senator from Berlin has referred to Elon Musk's Tesla as a “Nazi car,” while discussing the automaker's falling sales. Kiziltepe criticized the electric vehicle manufacturer in a post on X that has since been deleted.
Musk has faced backlash in the EU for what many perceive as his right-wing political stance. In Germany, he was condemned for supporting the Alternative for Germany party, and throughout the EU, he has been scrutinized for his close ties to former US President Donald Trump, whose views on diversity and the Ukraine conflict disagree with those of Brussels.
In response, Musk has accused the EU of censorship and bureaucratic overreach, often portraying the bloc's policies as infringing upon free speech and national autonomy.
“Who wants to drive a Nazi car? Electric car manufacturers are experiencing a sales boom – apart from Tesla,” Kiziltepe, a member of the Social Democratic Party and the senator for labor, social affairs, equality, integration, diversity, and anti-discrimination in Berlin, posted on X.
The comment prompted significant backlash from officials in Brandenburg, the state that hosts Tesla's only European factory. Minister-President Dietmar Woidke described the statement as “completely out of place,” while Economic Minister Daniel Keller called for Kiziltepe to retract her remarks.
Although her post has been removed, Kiziltepe defended her stance, asserting on X that she “expressly stands” by her critique of Musk and connected Tesla’s sales decline to “the far-right positions” of its CEO.
In the first quarter of this year, Tesla saw a 13% year-on-year drop in global vehicle deliveries, with automotive revenue falling by 20% and net income plummeting by 71%.
Earlier this year, Tesla's Gigafactory near Berlin faced protests when the word “heil” was projected onto its wall alongside the company’s logo, resulting in the message “Heil Tesla.” Moreover, Musk made a gesture during a campaign event for Trump’s inauguration that was interpreted by critics as a Nazi “Sieg Heil" salute, which he dismissed as politically motivated.
The billionaire has previously expressed support for Germany’s right-wing AfD, which stands in opposition to the ruling SPD. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Musk’s affiliation with the AfD as “disgusting,” while Economic Minister Robert Habeck accused him of launching a “frontal attack” on democracy.
The AfD garnered 20.8% of the vote in Germany’s federal elections in February, making it the country’s second-largest party, with immigration and economic discontent cited as significant contributors to its success.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
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