TESLA FACES BACKLASH! Danish construction giant Tscherning cuts ties with Tesla over Elon Musk’s controversial views. Is this the start of a trend?

Denmark’s Largest Construction Firm Drops Tesla Over Elon Musk’s Politics

In a bold move reflecting shifting corporate values in Europe, Denmark’s largest construction company, Tscherning, has returned its entire fleet of Tesla vehicles. The reason? Elon Musk’s increasingly controversial political stances.

Tscherning’s decision mirrors a growing trend across Europe, where Tesla’s image is suffering and sales are declining, largely due to concerns over Musk’s public political affiliations. Many consumers—and now even major companies—are choosing to distance themselves from the Tesla brand, not because of the quality of the cars, but because of the values and political direction associated with its CEO.

“We not only decide how we drive, but also who we drive with,” Tscherning said in a statement to Electrek. “That’s why we’ve chosen to hand over the keys to our Tesla company cars—not because Tesla has become a bad car, but due to Elon Musk’s political commitment and the opinions he has publicly expressed, which are increasingly hard to overlook. We as a company have chosen to say ‘thank you for the ride.’”

The company emphasized that it no longer wants to be associated with the values currently linked to Tesla, opting instead for European alternatives for its corporate fleet. This move comes after similar actions by other European companies, such as the pharmacy chain Rossmann, which also divested its Tesla fleet last year.

The impact on Tesla is significant. Corporate sales are a major driver for electric vehicle makers in Europe, and the loss of large clients like Tscherning signals a troubling trend for the company. Reports suggest that Tesla’s situation in Europe is becoming unsustainable, with the possibility of layoffs and store closures looming. Despite launching the new Model Y, Tesla’s sales in the first two quarters of 2025 have dropped by 40% year-over-year, marking the lowest figures in three years.

Interestingly, as more companies and individuals return or sell their Teslas, the used car market is seeing a surge in affordable Teslas—potentially a silver lining for budget-conscious buyers.

Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock has shown surprising resilience, jumping 45% in just one month and closing at $349.9 last week. Elon Musk, never one to shy away from controversy, celebrated the stock’s rally on social media, mocking previous critics and highlighting the brand’s ongoing volatility.

As Tscherning and others turn to European alternatives, Tesla faces a challenging road ahead in Europe—one where politics and public perception may prove just as important as innovation and engineering.