Hundreds of protests at Tesla dealerships and showrooms around the world took place on Saturday, showcasing a brewing global resistance against the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, as he continues to get involved in political affairs.
The organizer of the protest, known as “Tesla Takedown,” aimed to target more than 500 Tesla showrooms worldwide. About half of them were planned to take place at Tesla showrooms in the US, according to the organizer’s social media.
Protesters across multiple states, from blue-haven California to red-state Florida, were seen holding signs that urged passersby to “boycott Tesla” or called Musk a “fascist.”
Some of the unrest stems from Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration which has been on a fast track to reduce the size of the government by cutting the federal workforce or eliminating entire agencies. Some of the moves made by DOGE, the White House office leading the cost-cutting efforts, are being challenged in court.
Patty Hoyt, a resident of Marin County, California, who was protesting at a local Tesla dealership, told BI she disagreed with the administration’s plan to cut jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Although Hoyt’s not a veteran, she said in an interview that she had veteran friends who rely on the resources from the VA.
“These are people we made promises to,” Hoyt said of veterans.
But the frustrations aren’t just directed at Musk’s increasing influence in US politics as protests were spotted across Europe in France, Scotland, Germany, England, and the UK.
During Trump’s inauguration ceremony in January, Musk made a gesture to the audience that was widely interpreted to be a Nazi salute. Musk has denied that that was his intention. The Anti-Defamation League also defended the gesture, saying it was “awkward” but not a Nazi salute.
The gesture inevitably struck a nerve with some in Europe, including lawmakers, as the continent has a long dark history of being under Nazi occupation during World War II.
A protester in France held a sign declaring “No Nazi Cars.” In London, demonstrators set up an inflatable tube man that depicted Musk’s likeness and his infamous gesture.
Musk has made clear that his political interests go beyond the US. Last year, the CEO threw his support behind AfD, or Alternative for Germany, endorsing the far-right German political party to his millions of followers on X.
In February, the Afd came in second place in Germany’s national election, which represents Afd’s best performance in the party’s history.
Musk’s involvement with domestic and global affairs may have come at a cost.
After seeing a peak $1.54 trillion valuation in December, Tesla’s stock in recent weeks came tumbling down amid underperforming global sales and increasing concerns from investors and Wall Street that Musk is too distracted from his work.
It’s difficult to measure to what extent Musk’s politics have impacted his EV company. Tesla sales in Europe for the months of January and February fell 42.6% compared to figures from the same period, last year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, selling under 27,000 vehicles.
A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Beyond protests, Tesla dealerships and vehicles also have become a recent target of vandalism incidents and violence.
On March 24, the Austin Police Department told BI that officers found “incendiary” devices at a local Tesla dealership. Earlier that month, police in Oregon investigated gunshots directed at another Tesla building.
Some Tesla Cybertruck owners previously told BI that they’ve been subjected to ridicule and harassment for the car they owned.
“The Cybertruck just seems to send people over the edge a bit,” one owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “It makes no sense, I’m not Elon!”
The Trump administration, including the Department of Justice, has vowed to crack down on the attacks against Tesla, calling the recent spate of incidents “domestic terrorism.”
“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement on March 20. “Let this be a warning: If you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars.”
A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
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