Michael Lohscheller, CEO of Tesla competitor Polestar, believes that Elon Musk's increasingly active role in international politics has caused dissatisfaction among many Tesla customers and is creating opportunities for Polestar.

"There were a lot of people who wrote that they didn't like it," Lohscheller said in an interview. "It's important to listen carefully to what they have to say. I can also tell you that a lot of people have very, very negative views."


Michael Lohscheller

Lohscheller said he has told salespeople to focus on disgruntled Tesla owners to win potential business.

Lohscheller believes that Musk's eagerness to venture into the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom may bring benefits to Polestar, which is exactly what the company needs. The premium electric car maker's sales in the latest year have again disappointed, well below initial estimates made in 2021 when the company reached a deal to go public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company.


Lohscheller, 56, called Musk a "very successful businessman" and said he had made Tesla achieve incredible results. But Lohscheller was also unsparing in his criticism of Musk's strong support for Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party.

"It's a big deal for Germany that a non-resident supports a right-wing party," said Lohscheller, who was born in Bocholt, North Rhine-Westphalia. "Do you want to know what I think about this? I find it totally unacceptable, totally unacceptable. You can't do this. It's utter arrogance and it doesn't work."

Tesla's vehicle deliveries fell last year for the first time in more than a decade.

Since its listing in June 2022, Polestar's U.S.-listed share price has plummeted 92%, while Tesla has risen 73% during the same period.

Lohscheller, a former head of German carmaker Opel, expects Polestar's retail sales to grow by up to 35% annually over the next three years by switching to a more traditional distribution model and launching new models including compact SUVs. He took over as CEO of Polestar in October last year.