Hotel owner Andreas Eggensberger from Füssen, Germany, made headlines recently when he decided to tear down three Tesla Destination chargers on his property. This decision came after he expressed his frustration with Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s political views, particularly his support for former U.S. President Donald Trump during the 2020 election campaign.
Eggensberger had initially been a strong supporter of Tesla and its mission to promote sustainability through electric vehicles. He had set up several Tesla Destination chargers at his hotel to cater to electric vehicle owners, even offering a Tesla Model S for rent and test drives to his guests. However, his admiration for Tesla and Musk quickly soured when he saw Musk openly supporting Trump and contributing to political causes that Eggensberger disagreed with.
In a post on LinkedIn, Eggensberger explained his decision to remove the Tesla chargers from his hotel. He expressed disappointment in Musk’s actions and stated that he no longer wanted to support the CEO in any way. This move received mixed reactions from the public, with some supporting Eggensberger’s stance against Musk’s politics, while others criticized him for making it less convenient for electric vehicle drivers to charge at his hotel.
Despite the backlash, Eggensberger stood by his decision and emphasized the importance of aligning his values with the companies and individuals he chooses to support. While some may view his actions as drastic, he believed it was necessary to take a stand against what he perceived as unacceptable behavior from a prominent figure in the electric vehicle industry.
The incident serves as a reminder of the increasingly intertwined relationship between politics and business, and the impact that personal beliefs can have on consumer choices. As the electric vehicle market continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how other businesses navigate the complex landscape of political affiliations and corporate partnerships.