Politics · Germany · 1 day ago
BMW withdraws car lease offer for new parliament president in Saxony-Anhalt
Tobias Rausch, a politician from the AfD, was elected president of the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
BMW withdrew its offer to lease a car for the role on the day he was elected.
BMW has not explained why it withdrew the offer and says it does not comment on individual customer relationships.
Rausch says he was surprised and disappointed, and suspects the decision may be linked to his party membership.
The AfD branch in Saxony-Anhalt has been classified as far right by Germany’s domestic intelligence service.
The car was due to replace a BMW used by Rausch’s predecessor, whose lease ends in November; for now, Rausch can use that car.
No other carmaker has offered a replacement, and Rausch has said he will use his private car for official appointments if needed.
An AfD politician has asked Tesla chief Elon Musk on X whether Tesla would provide a car, but Tesla has not responded publicly.
BMW withdrew a leasing offer for a service car for Tobias Rausch after he was elected president of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament.
Rausch is the first AfD politician to lead a regional parliament in Germany.
BMW has not explained why it withdrew the offer and told German media it generally does not comment on customer relationships.
The state parliament administration said BMW’s offer was the only one from a major German carmaker; it had received no offers from Mercedes or Audi.
Rausch said he was surprised and disappointed, and NOS reported that he plans to use his private car for official appointments.
AfD politician Beatrix von Storch publicly asked Elon Musk on X whether Tesla would provide Rausch with a service car.
- Who
- Tobias Rausch, the newly elected AfD president of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, and BMW.
- What
- BMW withdrew its leasing offer for a service car for Rausch.
- When
- The offer was withdrawn on the day of Rausch’s election; reports were published on October 9 and 10, 2026.
- Where
- Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
- Why
- BMW has not stated a reason for withdrawing the offer.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Trovo sconcertante che Bmw denigri un’istituzione statale e anche il Land Sassonia-Anhalt
Gift für einen weltoffenen Wirtschaftsstandort, der vom Welthandel lebt
@elonmusk, would @Tesla be willing to provide him with an official car?
In december kom ik met die specifieke bromfiets naar de Staatskanselarij
Tobias Rausch was elected president of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, and BMW withdrew its leasing offer on the day of the election.
Beatrix von Storch asked Elon Musk on X whether Tesla would provide Rausch with a service car.
NOS and Spiegel reported that BMW had withdrawn the offer and that no other major German manufacturer had offered a car.
Il Fatto Quotidiano reported Rausch’s criticism of BMW and said he would temporarily use his predecessor’s car.
- New parliament president
- Tobias Rausch, of the AfD
- State
- Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
- BMW offer
- A leasing offer for an official car was withdrawn on the day of Rausch’s election
- Other German manufacturers
- No offers from Mercedes or Audi had been received, according to the state parliament administration
- Previous official car
- A BMW 7 Series used by Rausch’s predecessor; it had covered slightly more than 50,000 kilometres in about nine months
Sources
Bmw ritira l’offerta di leasing per il presidente del Parlamento in Sassonia-Anhalt dopo la vittoria di Afd
Geen BMW voor AfD'er Tobias Rausch na intrekken leaseaanbod
Verweigerter Leasingvertrag: Kein BMW-Dienstwagen mehr für AfD-Landtagspräsidenten
Dienstwagen-Debatte in Sachsen-Anhalt: AfD-Politiker Rausch schreibt BMW
BMW zieht Angebot für Rauschs Dienstwagen zurück
AfD: BMW stellt keinen Dienstwagen für neuen Landtagspräsidenten - Hilfe von Elon Musk?
BMW zieht Angebot zurück: AfD-Landtagspräsident braucht neuen Dienstwagen
BMW zieht Dienstwagen zurück - AfD-Landtagspräsident bald ohne Auto?
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