In Brandenburg, the anger over Elon Musk is growing
Elon Musk's confrontational statements often cause outrage. This is also the case in Brandenburg, where Europe's only Tesla factory is located, with the entrepreneur increasingly becoming unpopular. Economics Minister Joerg Steinbach sharply criticizes the billionaire but praises his work in Gruenheide.
Brandenburg's Economics Minister Joerg Steinbach has sharply criticized the political statements of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. "I do not only consider his statements to be wrong, but they actively undermine the fabric of our German and European society," the SPD politician told the "Handelsblatt". Brandenburg is an open and tolerant state. "Anti-Semitism, racism, hate speech, and exclusion have no place here," said Steinbach.
Musk recently caused outrage with his statements on the far-right riots in the UK. He wrote on X that a "civil war is inevitable" in the UK. When the government refuted this, Musk called British Prime Minister Keir Starmer "Two-faced Keir", apparently a reference to a claim circulating in right-wing circles that the British police are tougher on right-wing extremist demonstrators than on other demonstrators.
His statements about the AfD after the European election also sparked criticism. "It's always called 'far-right', but the AfD's politics, which I've read about, don't sound extreme," he explained. The party, which is partly far-right, regularly tops the polls for the upcoming Brandenburg state election on September 22, ahead of the ruling SPD and CDU.
Rossmann boycotts Tesla
Tesla operates its only European car factory in Brandenburg's Gruenheide, employing around 12,000 people. Economics Minister Steinbach said he values Musk as an "innovative and courageous" entrepreneur. "I do not share his personal political views."
The minister also made it clear that he expects companies in Brandenburg to make a clear commitment to their values. "In the case of the factory in Gruenheide, where people from 50 different nations work together, we can say that this is the case," he told the "Handelsblatt".
Just a few days ago, the German drugstore chain Rossmann announced that it would not be buying any Teslas for its fleet. The reason is Musk's support for former US President Donald Trump. Trump's open denial of climate change stands "in stark contrast to Tesla's mission to contribute to environmental protection through the production of electric vehicles," explained CEO Raoul Rossmann.
The Commission at the European Union might express concern over Musk's divisive statements, given their impact on societal harmony. As Brandenburg's Economics Minister, Joerg Steinbach strongly condemned Musk's politically charged comments, stating that they are detrimental to German and European values.
