Tesla warns Washington that Elon Musk's company would be « exposed » to an increase in customs duties – Liberation

For the past two months, Donald Trump's America has been carbury to the tragic. This Thursday, March 13, the case turns to the farce. According to the Financial Times And Reuters, Tesla sent a letter to the American representative to trade, Jamieson Greer, in order to warn him that American exporting companies are « Exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries react to American trade measures ». « It is a polite way of saying that the bipolar price diet nights in Tesla », Decrypt for the FT a source close to « Process for sending the letter »… Who criticizes the administration of which Elon Musk is a part, the manager of the manufacturer of electric cars.

« He is not signed because no one in the company wants to be dismissed for having sent him », specifies the source of FT. It must be said that at the end of February, Jared Ottmann, engineer and manager of Tesla, had been dismissed for criticizing an « joke » of Elon Musk on X, who had allowed word games with the leaders Goebbels, Goering and Himmler.

Concretely, the American brand claims that the increase in customs duties could overcome the manufacturing costs of its vehicles in the United States and make them less competitive export, while worrying about a possible increase in costs of importing lithium and cobalt. « Nevertheless, even with an aggressive location of the supply chain (Tesla has relocated part of the latter, editor's note), It is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain from the United States for certain parts and components, said the company. And to ask Jamieson Greer, after specifying that she « Support » equity in world trade, of« Evaluate in more detail the limits of the national supply chain to ensure that American manufacturers are not excessively penalized by commercial measures likely to cause prohibitive customs duties on the necessary components ».

This letter comes after weeks of climbing between the United States and China but also historical partners such as Canada, Mexico or the EU. After yet another threat of Taxes on steel and aluminum on the part of the American president, The European Commission announced Wednesday that it would apply customs duties « Strong but proportioned » On a series of products imported from the United States such as boats, motorcycles or bourbon from April 1. Its Canadian neighbor has threatened with steel taxes, aluminum – widely used in electric cars – or computers. And this Thursday, Trump decided to continue the escalation he started, with 200 % tax on European wines, champagnes and spirits.

The sequence is particularly complicated for Tesla. On the sales side, the results in Europe for January and February sank 44 % in France As in Norway, 76 % in Germany or 51 % in China in February, his worst month for two and a half years. On Monday, UBS Group analyst AG Joseph Spak also revised its forecast for the brand in the first quarter (-16 % compared to its previous estimates). He even planned a 5 % drop in sales over the year, when business managers promised the return of growth in 2025, after an unprecedented annual decrease for the Austin firm last year. A forecast that had participated in the fall in the course of Tesla's action Monday March 10. Since its peak on December 17, the action has even collapsed in half. This Thursday, Chris McNally, of the Evercore ISI cabinet, also reduced its forecasts of vehicle deliveries for 2025 (1.75 million) below those of 2024 (1.79 million).

Part of these decrees can be explained by the suspension, in China as in Europe, deliveries of Model Y, due to a new version of the vehicle, or by The rise of Chinese electric manufacturers. But many analysts recall that The image of Elon Muskbetween Nazi salutes and authoritarian decisions towards federal agencies, has a substantial impact. Sign that Donald Trump himself makes the connection between these sales at half mast and Musk's support in his electoral campaign-he paid him $ 250 million-as his participation in Trump's action for two months, The American president said on Monday :: « I'm going to buy a new Tesla tomorrow morning as a sign of confidence and support for Elon Musk. » And to pose in the White House with several cars of the brand, before choosing a Model S. Not apparently sufficient for those who run daily Tesla, who instead of the purchase of a car, ask Trump and Musk to return to their commercial policy.