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A French Tesla driver is suing the company to end the vehicle’s lease, claiming that CEO Elon Musk’s political activities have made the car a “fall-right totem.”
The lawsuit filed by around 10 clients alleges that Musk “damaged” the Tesla brand through his “fast-right” politics. This has led to increased hostility towards the vehicle and prevented the vehicle from “enjoying” it.
The case is in the early stages and will be evaluated by a judge in the Commercial Court of Paris before it is decided whether to proceed or not. According to Paris law firm GKA, around 10 Tesla customers are involved in the case, allowing other customers to participate in the action.
Most Tesla driver leases last around four years, with the option of purchasing the vehicle entirely at the end of these contracts. The lawsuit is about to terminate a lease agreement signed with Tesla.
The case leans towards the scope of inflammatory political acts from Musk in the past few months, from the apparent repeated use of gestures similar to the Nazi salute after Donald Trump’s inauguration in January to claim that British Prime Minister Kiel Starme was “conspiratoring with rape” rather than handling historic child abuse cases in the UK.
The lawsuit also alleges that customers are at high risk of vandalism against the vehicle.
Attorneys Patrick Krugman and Ivan Terrell said the vandals sculpted their client’s Tesla with sw and others defecated into their client’s car.
The lawsuit uses civil law that requires Leaser to allow renters to “peacefully enjoy” what they rent. Some Tesla Vehicles customers have become “contract prisoners” due to Musk’s actions, Klugman told the Financial Times.
“It would be interesting to see people like Musk facing responsibility for their language to their business. Even among the most liberals of us, the actions of business leaders engage in their business,” he said.
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The lawsuit comes as Tesla sales have dropped dramatically in Europe, causing the brand to be turned off over the political positioning of masks. In France, Teslas sales fell 67% in May, compared to the new registrations since July 2022, according to data from industrial group Plateforme Automobile.
Tesla was not immediately available to request for comment.
Additional Reports by Stephen Morris of London
