Did BMW withdraw its offer of an official car for Rausch?
Did BMW withdraw its official-car leasing offer to Saxony-Anhalt's parliament after AfD politician Tobias Rausch was elected its president?
True
BMW did withdraw its offer of an official car for Tobias Rausch.
True — multiple reputable German news outlets report that BMW withdrew a leasing offer for Tobias Rausch's official Landtag car on his election day.
GenuineClaims
✓ 4 trueDie Zeit reported that BMW withdrew a previously offered leasing/offer of an official car for the new Landtag president Tobias Rausch.12345
“Die Zeit berichtet, dass BMW ein zuvor angebotene Leasingangebot für den neuen Landtagspräsidenten Tobias Rausch zurückgezogen hat.”
Multiple reputable German outlets report that Die Zeit indicated BMW rescinded a leasing offer for Tobias Rausch's official car. Sources like Tagesschau, n-tv, and others confirm this claim, establishing a strong independent corroboration of the event. The coverage suggests that the retraction occurred on the same day Rausch was elected. This claim's accuracy is supported by various credible reports tracing back to the initial source, Die Zeit.
BMW withdrew the leasing offer on the same day Tobias Rausch was elected Landtag president.13
“BMW zog das Leasingangebot am selben Tag zurück, an dem Tobias Rausch zum Landtagspräsidenten gewählt wurde.”
Reports consistently indicate that BMW's withdrawal coincided with Tobias Rausch's election to the presidency of the Landtag. Reliable sources such as Tagesschau provide timelines that substantiate this timing, making it reasonably likely that the events occurred simultaneously.
BMW declined to comment publicly on the matter and said it generally does not comment on customer relationships.12
“BMW lehnte es ab, öffentlich zu kommentieren und teilte mit, dass man generell keine Kommentare zu Kundenbeziehungen abgibt.”
Several reports indicate BMW maintained a stance of non-commentary on customer relationships, supporting the assertion that they did not offer a substantive comment regarding the withdrawal.
Beatrix von Storch asked Elon Musk on X whether Tesla would be willing to provide Tobias Rausch with an official car.
“Beatrix von Storch fragte Elon Musk auf X, ob Tesla bereit wäre, Tobias Rausch ein offizielles Auto zur Verfügung zu stellen.”
The statement made by Beatrix von Storch on Twitter directly addresses Elon Musk and poses the question about Tesla providing a vehicle. This is straightforward and verifiable by examining the post itself.
What was posted
XBeatrix von Storch posted on Twitter that BMW withdrew its offer of an official car after AfD politician Rausch was elected president of Saxony-Anhalt’s parliament and asked if Tesla would provide one instead.
“According to DIE ZEIT, BMW withdrew its offer of an official car after AfD politician Rausch was elected president of Saxony-Anhalt’s parliament. @elonmusk, would @Tesla be willing to provide him with an official car?”
“According to DIE ZEIT, BMW withdrew its offer of an official car after AfD politician Rausch was elected president of Saxony-Anhalt’s parliament. @elonmusk, would @Tesla be willing to provide him with an official car?” — translated
Who posted it
XAccount check
Estimates from public signals — account age, posting pattern, audience — not a judgement of the person behind the account, and separate from whether this post is true.
What stood out
- The Twitter handle '@Beatrix_vStorch' matches the official handle of Beatrix von Storch, a German politician and lawyer.
- Beatrix von Storch is a member of the Bundestag and deputy parliamentary leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
- The account is not verified on Twitter, which is common for public figures in Germany due to privacy concerns.
- Recent posts from the account align with Beatrix von Storch's known political positions and activities.
- The account has been active recently, with posts dated October 8, 2026, and October 9, 2026.
Signals (2)+
- Posting cadence
- Multiple posts per week
- Follower ratio
- High follower count relative to following
Account checked October 10, 2026, 03:20 UTC
The media
Image✓ What is genuine
The image accurately represents a headline from Die Zeit and corroborates reports about the BMW withdrawal.
Synthetic-media detector
Detector not consultedSources settled the claim on their own; the detector was not needed.
Sources
5 sources reviewed- 1AfD-Landtagspräsident ohne Dienstwagen: BMW zieht Angebot zurück ↗
Tagesschau (ARD) · tagesschau.deReputable outletCenter/Lean Left — public serviceEvidence
Tagesschau confirms BMW's withdrawal of the leasing offer on election day.
- 2BMW zieht Dienstwagen für AfD-Landtagspräsidenten zurück ↗
n-tv · n-tv.deUntiereduntiered — treated as signal only, never decisiveEvidence
n-tv corroborates the key events regarding BMW's car offer withdrawal.
- 3BMW zieht Angebot für Dienstwagen des AfD-Landtagspraesidenten zurück ↗
Berliner Zeitung · berliner-zeitung.deUntiereduntiered — treated as signal only, never decisiveEvidence
Berliner Zeitung reports the exact timing of the event aligns with Rausch's election.
- 4BMW zieht Angebot zurück: AfD-Landtagspräsident braucht neuen Dienstwagen ↗
t-online · t-online.deUntiereduntiered — treated as signal only, never decisiveEvidence
t-online offers further details on Rausch's alternative arrangements post-withdrawal.
- 5Tobias Rausch: 'BMW zog Leasingvertrag zurück' (Die Zeit report - paywalled) ↗
Die Zeit · zeit.deReputable outletCenter/Lean LeftEvidence
Die Zeit serves as the primary source for the initial claim about BMW's decision.
Further reading
- 1Tagesschau (ARD) Tagesschau provides detailed reporting on BMW's withdrawal and includes direct statements relevant to the situation.
- 2n-tv n-tv offers concise coverage related to the corporate decisions and public responses surrounding the event.
- 5Die Zeit Die Zeit is the original source of the claim, providing an in-depth report that outlines the facts surrounding the situation.
The full story
The core of the claim is true: BMW rescinded a previously offered leasing arrangement for the official vehicle of Tobias Rausch, who was elected president of the Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt on October 6, 2026. This cancellation received widespread coverage across reputable German news outlets, including Die Zeit, Tagesschau, and n-tv, which corroborated this event. The reports indicate that the withdrawal took place on the same day as Rausch's election. Amid criticism, Rausch noted he might need to utilize the official car assigned to his predecessor until a new arrangement is made. In the wake of the incident, BMW did not provide a comment beyond its general policy of not addressing matters of customer relations.
Timeline
October 6, 2026
Tobias Rausch elected president of Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt.
October 6, 2026
BMW withdrew the leasing offer for the official car for Rausch.
How it was framed
The claim accurately describes BMW's withdrawal of the leasing offer, supported by multiple reputable sources.
Bias
Leans pro-AfD / provocative. The post uses a report about BMW withdrawing an offer to directly appeal to Elon Musk and ask Tesla to provide a car, which frames BMW's action as political and invites a partisan response; it therefore has a political, provocative slant rather than neutral reporting.
Bias describes how the post frames its message — the slant of the language, selection and emphasis — and is judged separately from whether the claim is true. A true claim can still be framed with a strong slant.
How we checked
50 s- 1
We executed searches using phrases related to BMW and Rausch to find event confirmations.
- 2
We opened pages from reliable news outlets reporting on BMW's car offer withdrawal.
- 3
We cross-referenced the articles to establish independent corroboration of the event.
✓ Claim checked✓ Media checked✓ Sources checked
Why 85% confidence
HighThe confidence score is high because multiple independent reputable sources corroborate the withdrawal of the offer.
Limits. We could not directly contact BMW for confirmation or insight into their decision-making process.
Spot it yourself
Why it looked fakeLooks suspicious, isn’t proof
- The use of a screenshot might cause skepticism due to the lack of additional verification on the image.
- The timing of the withdrawal coinciding with a political event can raise doubts in politically charged contexts.
- Content shared by politicians can be scrutinized for bias, making readers wary.
The actual evidence
- Reputable German news outlets confirm BMW's withdrawal of the offer.
- Reports connecting the withdrawal directly to Rausch's election solidify the claim.
- BMW's non-comment policy adds credibility to the news of the withdrawal by indicating a corporate decision behind the scenes.
- 1
Check multiple news sources.
Seek out coverage from other reputable outlets confirming the same event.
- 2
Look for timestamps.
Verify dates of reported events to confirm the timeline aligns with the claim.
- 3
Examine official statements.
Look for any formal statements from involved parties that may clarify the situation.
- 4
Investigate the political context.
Consider how related political events might influence or impact the situation presented.
Takeaway
Evaluate claims by seeking multiple verifications in independent news outlets, and pay attention to the timing of events that might introduce bias.
Questions people ask
What led to BMW withdrawing the leasing offer?+
The decision to withdraw was made on the same day Tobias Rausch was elected president of the Landtag. Reports indicate it was a corporate decision, but specific reasons were not disclosed publicly.
Did BMW provide a comment about the withdrawal?+
No, BMW declined to comment on the matter, referring instead to their general policy of not discussing customer relationships.
Why did Beatrix von Storch mention Tesla?+
Beatrix von Storch rhetorically asked Elon Musk if Tesla would provide Rausch with an official car in response to BMW's withdrawal. Her inquiry is seen as an opinion rather than a factual claim.
Are there any other examples of companies withdrawing offers due to political events?+
While there may be various instances, each situation is unique and context-dependent; it’s important to consider specific details before drawing comparisons.
How can I verify claims like this in the future?+
To verify similar claims, check multiple reputable news sources, confirm event timelines, and look for official statements from the involved parties for clarity.
Go deeper
- Leasing Offer
- An agreement where one party allows another to use an asset in exchange for periodic payments.
- Withdrawal
- The act of taking back or revoking something previously offered or agreed upon.
- Corroboration
- The ability to confirm or support a statement or claim with additional evidence.
People also search for
For educators+
- Why is it important to confirm claims with multiple sources?
- How can political events influence corporate decisions?
- In what ways can individuals critically assess the information shared by public figures?
About this check
- Platform
- X
- Posted by
- @Beatrix_vStorch
- Posted
- October 8, 2026
- Age when checked
- 1–2 days old when checked
- Where it spread
- Germany
- Audience
- UK & EU audience
- Language
- EN
- Status
- ● Post is live
- Verified
- October 10, 2026, 03:22 UTC
- Published
- October 10, 2026, 03:22 UTC
Reach. von Storch post 12,123 likes; AfD lead candidate Siegmund's follow-up 20,164 likes (syndication, 10 Oct); 'Dienstwagen', 'BMWs', 'Tesla', 'Lada', 'Leasingvertrag' trending on X in Germany (trends24); wide pickup (Tagesspiegel, WiWo, web.de, Auto Bild)
This verdict was generated with AI from the sources shown. AI can make mistakes — check the sources before relying on it.
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