South Korea's Kia denies responsibility for anti-Musk ad
Seoul (AFP) – South Korean automaker Kia told AFP on Tuesday it had not approved an advertising campaign that featured one of its electric vehicles with a bumper sticker denigrating rival Tesla owner Elon Musk.
Issued on: 11/03/2025 - FRANCE24
While Elon Musk enjoys Donald Trump's confidence, polling shows he is deeply unpopular among ordinary Americans © Jim WATSON / AFP/File
The advertisement, posted last month on the social media accounts of Kia Norway, features the company's entry-level electric car, the EV3, with a bumper sticker saying: "I bought this after Elon went crazy."
The sticker appears to riff on a viral trend of Tesla owners, unhappy with the world's richest person's recent foray into politics, slapping bumper stickers on their vehicles claiming they had purchased them "before Musk went crazy".
The advertisement was removed on Tuesday after AFP asked the South Korean company about the image.
"Kia Corporation is aware of a social media post by Kia Norway, which has since been removed," a company spokesperson said in a statement provided to AFP.
"The post was an entirely independent local initiative that does not reflect the position of Kia Europe or Kia Corporation," it said.
Musk responded with apparent incredulity as users on the social media site X, which he owns, shared images of the Kia advertisement.
"They really did that?" he asked, in response to a post calling out Kia Norway for running the promotion.
Kia is an affiliate of South Korea's Hyundai, and combined they are the world's third-largest automaker by volume as of 2024, selling more than 7.2 million cars combined.
It has rolled out a range of EVs in recent years, from the EV3 -- Britain's 2025 car of the year -- to the large SUV EV9.
Billionaire Musk, the boss of SpaceX and Tesla, has become a key backer of and adviser to US President Donald Trump.
Musk has recently become the target of protests against the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that he leads, including vandalisation of Tesla facilities and an apparent cyberattack on X.
While Musk enjoys Trump's confidence, polling shows he is deeply unpopular among ordinary Americans, and his cuts have sparked angry confrontations between Republicans and their constituents at town halls.
Tesla has seen its sales drop across Europe in recent weeks following Musk's controversial support for far-right groups, including Germany's AfD during the country's recent election campaign.
Tesla sales in Germany -- Europe's biggest auto market -- plunged more than 76 percent year-on-year in February, official data showed. Overall sales in the European Union almost halved year-on-year in January.
Investors are concerned about the potential for boycotts and buyer backlash over Musk's divisive behaviour as an adviser to the US president.
Tesla has lost more than one-third of its market value since mid-December as Musk deepens his association with the polarising US leader.
© 2025 AFP
Seoul (AFP) – South Korean automaker Kia told AFP on Tuesday it had not approved an advertising campaign that featured one of its electric vehicles with a bumper sticker denigrating rival Tesla owner Elon Musk.
Issued on: 11/03/2025 - FRANCE24
While Elon Musk enjoys Donald Trump's confidence, polling shows he is deeply unpopular among ordinary Americans © Jim WATSON / AFP/FileThe advertisement, posted last month on the social media accounts of Kia Norway, features the company's entry-level electric car, the EV3, with a bumper sticker saying: "I bought this after Elon went crazy."
The sticker appears to riff on a viral trend of Tesla owners, unhappy with the world's richest person's recent foray into politics, slapping bumper stickers on their vehicles claiming they had purchased them "before Musk went crazy".
The advertisement was removed on Tuesday after AFP asked the South Korean company about the image.
"Kia Corporation is aware of a social media post by Kia Norway, which has since been removed," a company spokesperson said in a statement provided to AFP.
"The post was an entirely independent local initiative that does not reflect the position of Kia Europe or Kia Corporation," it said.
Musk responded with apparent incredulity as users on the social media site X, which he owns, shared images of the Kia advertisement.
"They really did that?" he asked, in response to a post calling out Kia Norway for running the promotion.
Kia is an affiliate of South Korea's Hyundai, and combined they are the world's third-largest automaker by volume as of 2024, selling more than 7.2 million cars combined.
It has rolled out a range of EVs in recent years, from the EV3 -- Britain's 2025 car of the year -- to the large SUV EV9.
Billionaire Musk, the boss of SpaceX and Tesla, has become a key backer of and adviser to US President Donald Trump.
Musk has recently become the target of protests against the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that he leads, including vandalisation of Tesla facilities and an apparent cyberattack on X.
While Musk enjoys Trump's confidence, polling shows he is deeply unpopular among ordinary Americans, and his cuts have sparked angry confrontations between Republicans and their constituents at town halls.
Tesla has seen its sales drop across Europe in recent weeks following Musk's controversial support for far-right groups, including Germany's AfD during the country's recent election campaign.
Tesla sales in Germany -- Europe's biggest auto market -- plunged more than 76 percent year-on-year in February, official data showed. Overall sales in the European Union almost halved year-on-year in January.
Investors are concerned about the potential for boycotts and buyer backlash over Musk's divisive behaviour as an adviser to the US president.
Tesla has lost more than one-third of its market value since mid-December as Musk deepens his association with the polarising US leader.
© 2025 AFP
Washington (AFP) – US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will buy a "brand new Tesla" to show support for his top campaign donor and advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Issued on: 11/03/2025 - FRANCE24
People participate in a protest against Elon Musk outside a Tesla dealership in Pasadena, California on March 8, 2025 © Frederic J. BROWN / AFP/File
"To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is 'putting it on the line' in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform just after midnight on Tuesday.
"But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World's great automakers, and Elon's 'baby,' in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for," Trump said.
"I'm going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.
"Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???"
Musk, the world's richest person, responded on his X platform, thanking the president.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has empowered Musk to slash federal government spending and agencies' workforces as head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
But DOGE's cost-cutting campaign has faced increasing resistance, including protests, court rulings and some pressure from lawmakers.
While Musk enjoys Trump's confidence, polling shows the tech billionaire is deeply unpopular among ordinary Americans, and his cuts to government budgets have sparked angry confrontations between Republicans and their constituents at town halls.
And Tesla investors have feared boycotts and buyer backlash over Musk's actions and close ties to Trump.
Some owners of Tesla's pioneering electric cars have voiced buyers' remorse over Musk's foray into politics, and his sharing of conspiracy theories online.
Unhappy Tesla owners have even slapped bumper stickers on their vehicles claiming they had purchased them "before Elon went crazy."
Slumping shares
Tesla shares closed down more than 15 percent on Monday, as uncertainty over Trump's import tariffs and threats have left US financial markets in turmoil.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq tanked four percent owing in part to the plunge in high-flying titans including Apple, Amazon and Tesla.
Tesla has also seen its sales drop across Europe in recent weeks following Musk's controversial support for far-right groups, including Germany's AfD during the country's recent election campaign.
Tesla sales in Germany -- Europe's biggest auto market -- plunged more than 76 percent year-on-year in February, official data showed. Overall sales in the European Union almost halved, on year, in January.
In early March, a dozen Teslas were torched at a dealership in France in what authorities treated as an arson attack, and the firm's facilities have also been vandalized in the United States.
Tesla has lost more than one-third of its market value since mid-December as Musk deepens his association with Trump.
Meanwhile, Musk said his X platform was hit Monday by a major cyberattack, raising questions as to whether the politically divisive billionaire is being targeted or his decision to gut staff at what was once Twitter is haunting the social network.
© 2025 AFP
"To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is 'putting it on the line' in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform just after midnight on Tuesday.
"But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World's great automakers, and Elon's 'baby,' in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for," Trump said.
"I'm going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.
"Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???"
Musk, the world's richest person, responded on his X platform, thanking the president.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has empowered Musk to slash federal government spending and agencies' workforces as head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
But DOGE's cost-cutting campaign has faced increasing resistance, including protests, court rulings and some pressure from lawmakers.
While Musk enjoys Trump's confidence, polling shows the tech billionaire is deeply unpopular among ordinary Americans, and his cuts to government budgets have sparked angry confrontations between Republicans and their constituents at town halls.
And Tesla investors have feared boycotts and buyer backlash over Musk's actions and close ties to Trump.
Some owners of Tesla's pioneering electric cars have voiced buyers' remorse over Musk's foray into politics, and his sharing of conspiracy theories online.
Unhappy Tesla owners have even slapped bumper stickers on their vehicles claiming they had purchased them "before Elon went crazy."
Slumping shares
Tesla shares closed down more than 15 percent on Monday, as uncertainty over Trump's import tariffs and threats have left US financial markets in turmoil.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq tanked four percent owing in part to the plunge in high-flying titans including Apple, Amazon and Tesla.
Tesla has also seen its sales drop across Europe in recent weeks following Musk's controversial support for far-right groups, including Germany's AfD during the country's recent election campaign.
Tesla sales in Germany -- Europe's biggest auto market -- plunged more than 76 percent year-on-year in February, official data showed. Overall sales in the European Union almost halved, on year, in January.
In early March, a dozen Teslas were torched at a dealership in France in what authorities treated as an arson attack, and the firm's facilities have also been vandalized in the United States.
Tesla has lost more than one-third of its market value since mid-December as Musk deepens his association with Trump.
Meanwhile, Musk said his X platform was hit Monday by a major cyberattack, raising questions as to whether the politically divisive billionaire is being targeted or his decision to gut staff at what was once Twitter is haunting the social network.
© 2025 AFP
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