Hundreds of protests at Tesla dealers and showrooms around the world took place on Saturday, showing off brewing’s global resistance to Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, and he continues to get caught up in political affairs.
The protest organizers, known as “Tesla Takedown,” were aiming to target over 500 Tesla showrooms around the world. About half of them were scheduled to be held at the Tesla showroom in the US, according to organizers’ social media.
Protesters from multiple states, from Blue Haven California to Red State in Florida, were seen holding signs that urged passersby to call them “boycott Teslas” or masks.
Protesters from Pasadena, California, and Clermont, Florida, will hold demonstrations against Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Frederick J. Brown; Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP via Getty Images
Some of the uncertainties stem from his involvement with the Trump administration, where masks are on a quick trajectory to reduce government size by cutting down federal workforce or removing an entire agency. Some of the moves made by Doge, the White House office, have led cost-cutting efforts and are being challenged in court.
Patty Hoyt, a Marine County, California resident, told BI that he had been protesting at a local Tesla dealer but opposed the administration’s plan to cut jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hoyt is not a veteran, but in an interview he said he has veteran friends who rely on VA resources.
“These are the people we promised,” Whitt said of the veterans.
But the grievances are not only directed at the growing influence of masks in American politics, as protests have been discovered across Europe, including France, Scotland, Germany, the UK and the UK.
At Trump’s inauguration in January, Musk gestured to the audience, which was widely interpreted as a Nazi salute. Musk denied that it was his intention. The Prevention League also defended the gesture, saying that it was “troubling” but not a Nazi salute.
The continent has a long, dark history of being under Nazi occupation during World War II, so gestures inevitably hit the nerves of some Europeans in Europe.
Protesters in front of the Tesla Service Center in Berlin have the indications of “Elon Musk to the Moon” in German. Ralf Hirschberger/AFP via Getty Images
French protesters held signs declaring “There are no Nazi cars.” In London, the demonstrator founded the Inflatable Tube Man, depicting the portrait of the mask and his infamous gestures.
Musk revealed that his political interests exceed the US. Last year, the CEO threw his support behind AFD, or German alternatives, supporting far-right German political parties to X’s millions of followers.
In February, the AFD came in second in the German national elections. This represents the best performance in AFD history.
Detroit Tesla dealer protesters and her dog. Nic Antaya for Business Insiders
Masks’ involvement in national and global issues could have been costly.
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After seeing a peak of $1.54 trillion in December, Tesla stocks over the last few weeks have fallen amid growing concerns from investors and Wall Street that Musk is too distracted by his work.
It is difficult to measure the extent to which Musk’s politics has impacted his EV company. According to the European Association of Auto Manufacturers, sales of Teslas in Europe in January and February fell 42.6% compared to last year’s figures, compared to last year’s figures, which sell less than 27,000 vehicles.
A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
Protesters at the Tesla showroom in New York City, New York hold a sign depicting Elon Musk. Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images
Beyond protests, Tesla dealers and vehicles have also become recent targets of vandalism and violence.
On March 24, the Austin Police Department told BI that officers had found the “baked Cen” device at a local Tesla dealer. Earlier that month, Oregon police investigated a gunshot pointed at another Tesla building.
Some Tesla Cybertruck owners previously told BI they had been exposed to ridiculous and harassment of the cars they owned.
“Cybertruck seems to be giving people a bit of a turn,” said the common owner who asked to remain anonymous. “That makes no sense, I’m not Elon!”
Cybertruck drivers clash with protesters at a Tesla Takedown demonstration in Detroit. Nic Antaya for Business Insiders
The Trump administration, including the Justice Department, vows to crack down on attacks on Tesla, calling the recent incident “domestic terrorism.”
“The days of committing crimes without consequences are over,” Attorney General Pamela Bondy said in a statement on March 20. “Let’s use this as a warning.
A White House spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
