- Because of Elon Musk, drugstore chain Rossmann is "not buying Tesla anymore".
It should come as no surprise – certainly not to CEO Elon Musk. Yet, he may only fully grasp the damage he's causing with his sometimes politically radical messages and open support of Donald Trump later on – if at all. As the star already reported, an increasing number of former customers and fans of Tesla are turning away. Now, a fleet customer who had previously purchased vehicles from the brand, the drugstore chain Rossmann, is also doing so. In a dramatic press release, the company announces that it will no longer acquire any further Tesla models.
"Elon Musk makes no secret of his support for Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly described climate change as a hoax – a stance that is in stark contrast to Tesla's mission to contribute to environmental protection through the production of electric vehicles," says Raoul Roßmann, spokesperson for the management, in the chain's statement.
While they will not immediately dispose of all Tesla vehicles, like the US car rental company Hertz, they will only consider "alternative manufacturers and models" in the future. Rossmann told the star upon request that there are currently 34 Teslas in the fleet. In total, there are around 800 passenger cars. Rossmann did not specify the financial damage Tesla might incur from planned new acquisitions that are now being made elsewhere.
Elon Musk's political stance has "far-reaching consequences"
A Rossmann spokesperson explains: "We are aware that we are not a major buyer. But we use our opportunities to position ourselves with a clear stance: The big lever to counter climate change lies in politics. Because only with the help of sensible politics and legislation can sustainable and effective changes be initiated. A very good example is the methane regulation that the EU adopted in 2024, which requires oil and gas companies to regularly inspect their facilities to identify and repair methane leaks, as about a third of current global warming is attributable to avoidable methane emissions, among other things, in the production of gas and oil. If a CEO like Elon Musk supports a presidential candidate like Donald Trump, who dismisses climate change as a 'hoax', this has far-reaching consequences."
With Rossmann's decision, Tesla loses another corporate customer who is very important for the sale of vehicles in larger quantities. Apart from that, it is of course detrimental to the image of a car manufacturer when other companies publicly declare that they want to avoid it.
Similarly, the German car rental company Sixt and the US rental company Hertz are no longer working with Tesla. Although this has no ideological background, it also causes a hole in the order books of the car manufacturer (learn more here).
More and more people are avoiding Tesla because of Musk – not because of the cars
Resistance against the CEO is growing on social media. With every post on his platform X, formerly Twitter, against US politicians, every fake video, every shared conspiracy theory, and every attack on his daughter Vivan Jenna Wilson, he is losing potential customers who do not want to provide any further funds for his alleged donation campaigns for US presidential candidate Donald Trump.
This is disastrous for Tesla, as the cars – apart from the Cybertruck – are actually very solid and consistently suitable for everyday use, and have had a technical lead for a long time, attracting many fans. This has not changed. However, Musk has been the figurehead of the company for years, and now his fame is mainly having a negative impact.
Tesla published a disappointing Q2 2024 earnings report in late July. Despite posting $1.48 billion in profits and $25.5 billion in revenue, the company saw a 45% drop in profits. Musk attempted to appease disgruntled investors by promising that future profits would come from self-driving cars and humanoid robots, not consumer vehicles. He may not have much time to deliver on these promises.
The European Parliament can provide assistance to The Commission, as they play a significant role in shaping policies and legislation that can impact companies like Tesla.
Raoul Roßmann, the spokesperson for Rossmann, emphasizes the importance of political stance in addressing climate change, highlighting the potential consequences of Elon Musk's support for Donald Trump, who dismisses climate change as a 'hoax'.
