Germany has not shut down electric carmaker Tesla's operations in the country, according to spokespersons for the federal government and Germany’s largest labour union, who spoke to Reuters to counter a false claim online.

It comes as Tesla battles falling sales and protests.

Tesla Motors, one of billionaire Elon Musk’s companies — who now serves as head of the Department of Government Efficiency — has been the target of a series of violent attacks against its vehicles and dealerships.

Taxi drivers around Germany are reporting growing resistance among customers to accept a trip in a Tesla, the electric car brand owned by Mr Musk. Meanwhile surveys indicate that Tesla sales and brand loyalty are in the toilet since Mr Musk endorsed Donald Trump and refused to deny giving a Nazi salute at a presidential inauguration event.

At home and abroad, the Texas EV maker is facing significant backlash against Musk and his affiliation with the Trump administration.

A group funded by billionaire Elon Musk is offering Wisconsin voters $100 to sign a petition in opposition to “activist judges.”

Tesla’s electric vehicle business and its founder may be mired in controversy, but its energy storage segment continues to quietly deliver

Consumers are exercising caution over Musk’s decision to switch gears from entrepreneur to partisan political player.