Social Democrat Cansel Kiziltepe attributed the car manufacturer’s declining sales to CEO Elon Musk’s “far-right positions.”
A Berlin senator has labeled Elon Musk’s Tesla a “Nazi car” while discussing the company’s declining sales. Cansel Kiziltepe, a Social Democrat, criticized the electric vehicle company in a now-deleted post on X on Wednesday.
Musk has faced criticism in the EU for his perceived right-wing political views. He was condemned in Germany for supporting the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, and in the broader EU for his close ties to former US President Donald Trump, whose policies on issues like diversity and the Ukraine conflict differ from those of Brussels.
Musk, in response, has accused the EU of censorship, excessive regulation, and economic damage, often portraying the bloc’s policies as suppressing free speech and national independence.
“Who wants to drive a Nazi car? Electric car manufacturers are experiencing a sales boom – apart from Tesla,” wrote Kiziltepe, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the senator for labor, social affairs, equality, integration, diversity and anti-discrimination of the state of Berlin, on X.
The post received strong criticism from officials in the neighboring state of Brandenburg, where Tesla’s only European car factory is located. Dietmar Woidke, Brandenburg’s minister-president, described it as “completely out of place,” and the state’s economic minister, Daniel Keller, demanded Kiziltepe retract her statement.
The post has since been removed, but Kiziltepe defended her stance, stating on X on Friday that she “expressly stands” by her assessment of Musk, and linking Tesla’s sales decline to “the far-right positions” of its CEO.
In the first quarter of this year, Tesla’s global vehicle deliveries decreased by 13% year-over-year, automotive revenue dropped by 20%, and net income plummeted by 71%.
Tesla’s Gigafactory near Berlin was targeted by protesters earlier this year when the word “heil” was projected onto its wall next to the automaker’s logo, spelling the message “Heil Tesla.” During a campaign event marking Trump’s inauguration in January, Musk made a gesture that some critics interpreted as a Nazi “Sieg Heil” salute. Musk dismissed these accusations as politically motivated.
The billionaire has previously expressed support for Germany’s right-wing AfD, a rival to the ruling SPD. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Musk’s support of the AfD “disgusting.” Economic Minister Robert Habeck also accused the entrepreneur of launching a “frontal attack” on democracy.
The AfD secured 20.8% of the vote in the German federal election in February, becoming the country’s second-largest party. Factors such as immigration and economic dissatisfaction were cited as key reasons for the party’s success.
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