Kristina Roberts
A small number of people in France who lease electric cars from a popular company are upset. They have gone to a special court in Paris because they feel they’ve been hurt by what the company’s leader, Elon Musk, has done. These users want to end their lease contracts early and get back the money they spent on legal fees.
The group of around ten people say the cars they chose because they seem clean and modern are now causing them trouble. They believe the cars have turned into “far‑right totems” because of Mr. Musk’s public actions. The phrase “far‑right totem” means something people see as a symbol of extreme right‑wing politics. The users say this is hurting the cars’ image and their own reputations.
They explain that Mr. Musk has been supporting some very conservative and nationalist political figures. They mention he helped Donald Trump in his campaign for president and also showed support for a political party in Germany that some call far right. The users say that because of this, people now look at their electric cars and think those cars represent those political ideas—with no control from the drivers.
The lawsuit notes that these political actions have caused “direct and concrete” harm. That means something real happened because of what Mr. Musk said or did. The users claim this harm affects them because they just wanted a clean, green vehicle—not one that would bring political protests or angry reactions to them.
Sales of these electric cars across Europe have been going down. In France, Britain, Germany, and Italy, fewer people are buying or leasing them now. Some are doing this as a protest against Mr. Musk’s politics. Others are changing to cheaper electric cars made in China. So, it seems Mr. Musk’s public words are hurting how many cars the company sells.
The users brought up a specific example. They say Mr. Musk made a hand gesture when he was at an inauguration ceremony, and many people online compared it to a Nazi salute. They view that as another sign of what they call harmful behavior. Mr. Musk said the criticism about the gesture was “tired,” meaning he thought the argument was old or worn‑out.
On top of that, they mention that Mr. Musk helped set up a government group in the U.S. with the nickname DOGE. They say that’s another political move he made that caused trouble. His involvement in that group attracted criticism, some protest actions, and even led to damage at some of the company’s stores across the U.S. and Europe.
Lawyers representing the users, Patrick Klugman and Ivan Terel, told the court that the cars were once seen as symbols of innovation and environment‑friendly ideas. Now, they say, the vehicles are “powerful political symbols” that no one meant them to be. They want the court to let them end their lease early and get back the money they are spending on lawyers.
The company in Europe has not yet answered any questions about the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Mr. Musk has recently said he regrets some of his messages on his social media site, X. He said those posts were “too much” and that he regretted writing them after a public disagreement with Donald Trump earlier this month.
Media reports say the electric vehicle company’s sales dropped by half in some parts of Europe this spring. One report says sales in France fell by 67 percent in May 2025, compared to May the year before. This is the lowest level of new registrations since July 2022. Some experts link this steep drop to the leader’s political moves and words.
Experts also say that when a business leader speaks out in politics, it can backfire. One lawyer said it proves “freedom—even among the most liberal among us—doesn’t come without responsibility.” They mean that if you talk about politics loudly, you might hurt your own company or the people connected to it.
Because of all of this, the users argue they can no longer enjoy driving the cars peacefully. Some say their cars have even been damaged. There are reports of cars being vandalized, with swastikas scratched into them, or even being attacked. They feel stuck in their contracts and unable to enjoy the cars as they originally hoped.
The users are hoping that more people who lease these cars will join the lawsuit over time. If the court agrees that the cars have turned into political symbols, more leaseholders could also ask to end their leases without penalties.
In short, these French users don’t want a political symbol—they want a clean, electric car. They believe Mr. Musk’s public political actions have turned their vehicles into symbols of extreme political views. They are asking the Paris court for help to fix this and return their cars if possible. The case is now being reviewed and we will learn more once the court reaches a decision.
