Statement from BEM board member Christian Heep on Tesla / Elon Musk
Kolumne / Kommentar von Christian Heep
As awareness increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to separate the role of a private individual from acting on behalf of a company. In today’s business world, this distinction is often complex and multi-layered. There is no question that Tesla has played a significant role in accelerating electric mobility worldwide, including in Germany and Europe. Tesla’s innovation and disruptive market penetration has pushed the entire automotive industry to move faster towards sustainable mobility. Without this pressure, Germany and Europe would certainly not be as far along today.
Nevertheless, it is understandable that companies like Rossmann, who wish to distance themselves from certain statements or actions, base their business decisions on ethical principles and the values of their customers. The decision to remove Tesla vehicles from the fleet may be an expression of such moral positioning. However, if you want to be convincing in virtue signalling, you need to be a role model yourself, otherwise the criticism loses credibility. While Elon Musk revolutionised the car world and set up an extensive charging network, Rossmann shows little commitment: out of 800 vehicles in the fleet, only 71 are purely electric and there are hardly any charging options for customers. Despite the emphasis on climate protection, this record is not very convincing.
It is important to look at events in a wider context. During the Dieselgate scandal, for example, the German automotive industry systematically deceived and cheated, resulting in enormous damage to society and the environment. The increased emissions have not only permanently damaged trust in the German automotive industry, but have also had serious health consequences for the population. This scandal has considerably weakened the German automotive industry’s ability to make progress. Some politicians have supported or at least tolerated this, which has ultimately jeopardised sustainable jobs, value creation and prosperity. Did this lead to equally media-effective reactions or measures that resulted in German vehicles being removed from fleets?
In this context, it should also not be forgotten that Tesla has long served as the enemy of the German automotive industry and guarantees a high level of media attention. There are a variety of targeted campaigns and fake news aimed at discrediting Tesla and Elon Musk in particular, who is constantly at the centre of these attacks, which are part of a broader campaign against electromobility as a whole.
A central problem here is the double standard that is evident in many of these discussions. Ethical and moral principles should of course apply equally to everyone. For example, if someone harms the environment, for example through fossil-fuelled economic practices, this should be condemned just as strongly. Child labour in the textile industry, the lack of transparency in global supply chains and the externalisation of environmental risks deserve at least as much attention as critical statements or political opinions. This one-sided focus distracts from larger systemic problems that urgently need to be addressed.
As the German eMobility Association, we do not want to relativise any questionable statements or attitudes from Elon Musk. We also take a differentiated view of some of his statements. However, it is crucial that ethical principles apply equally to everyone. This also includes the numerous statements and actions of other business leaders and politicians who do not receive the same critical attention.
Ultimately, the success of electromobility will not only depend on technological innovations, but also on the transparency, credibility and ethical responsibility of the players in the entire economy as well as the political framework conditions. Only by setting a fair and equal standard for all stakeholders can a sustainable green economy realise its full potential – for the benefit of the environment, the economy and society as a whole.
