Staff Reports
Germany’s Rossmann, a major player in the pharmacy sector, has decided to slam the door on Tesla, all thanks to CEO Elon Musk’s public support for former President Donald Trump. It seems the drugstore chain can’t handle the heat and is opting to ditch its electric vehicles because the billionaire business mogul dares to endorse a Republican.
In a rather dramatic announcement, Rossmann made it clear that they would cease purchasing Tesla vehicles for their corporate fleet, effective immediately. The reasoning? Apparently, Musk’s cheerleading for Trump is at odds with their so-called commitment to environmental responsibility, especially considering Trump’s skepticism about climate change. Raoul Rossmann, son of the founder, drew a clear line in the sand, saying that supporting a man who questions climate change doesn’t mesh well with Tesla’s supposed “mission” to save the planet.
Rossmann, one of Germany's largest pharmacies, announced this week that it ended its relationship with electric vehicle maker Tesla over CEO Elon Musk's endorsement of former President Donald Trump. https://t.co/o8iCOSO9h0
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 7, 2024
One has to wonder whether the leadership at Rossmann has been sipping too much “woke” Kool-Aid. It’s not exactly news that not every business decision can be made based on someone’s political views. After all, what happened to the days when companies cared about quality and customer service rather than getting caught up in the latest political causes? There is no trouble recognizing where priorities lie here, and it’s certainly not in providing electric vehicles that happen to be good for business.
In terms of financial impact, it is highly doubtful that Tesla will lose sleep over Rossmann’s exit. The company continues to thrive amid political discourse, evidenced by Musk’s growing influence and the ongoing interest in electric vehicles. Any shedding of corporate partners often makes more headlines than it makes actual financial differences in Tesla’s eco-friendly empire.
Musk, who previously stated he would refrain from endorsing any candidates, has thrown caution to the wind, apparently unfazed by the criticism. His backing of Trump came shortly after the former president survived an assassination attempt. This endorsement places Tesla on the side of a leader who many believe is a champion for innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in defiance of the left’s cultural gatekeeping. One thing is clear: while Rossmann tries to pick sides, the rest of the country is busy driving forward, quite literally, into an electric future.
