Hundreds of demonstrations among Tesla dealers and exhibition halls around the world took place on Saturday, presenting a global resistance to brewing the CEO of society, Elon Musk, while he continues to get involved in political affairs.
The organizer of the event, known as “Tesla Takedown”, aimed to target more than 500 Tesla exhibition rooms in the world. According to Tesla’s social media, about half of them were to take place at the Tesla exhibition halls in the United States.
Demonstrators through several states, from California to Haven Bleu to Florida in the red state, were seen by holding signs that urged passers -by to “boycott Tesla” or called Musk a “fascist”.
The demonstrators in Pasadena, California, on the left, and Clermont, in Florida, on the right, demonstrate against the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk. Frederic J. Brown; Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images
Some of the disorders arise from Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration, which has been on a fast track to reduce government size by reducing federal workforce or eliminating entire agencies. Some of the measures taken by DOGE, the White House office leading to cost reduction efforts, are challenged in court.
Patty Hoyt, a resident of the county of Marin, in California, who protested a Tesla local dealer, told Bi in disagreement with the administration plan to reduce the jobs of the veterans department. Although Hoyt was not a veteran, she said in an interview that she had veteran friends who were on the resources of the VA.
“These are people we have made,” said Hoyt about veterans.
But the frustrations are not only intended for the growing influence of Musk in American politics, because demonstrations have been identified across Europe in France, Scotland, Germany, England and the United Kingdom.
During the inauguration ceremony of Trump in January, Musk made a gesture to the public which was largely interpreted as a Nazi salute. Musk denied that it was his intention. The anti-diploma league also defended the gesture, saying it was “clumsy” but not a Nazi salute.
The gesture inevitably struck a nerve with some in Europe, including legislators, because the continent has a long dark history of being under Nazi occupation during the Second World War.
A demonstrator in front of a Tesla service center in Berlin holds a sign that says “Elon Musk to the Moon” in German. Ralf Hirschberger / AFP via Getty Images
A demonstrator in France held a sign declaring “no Nazi cars”. In London, the demonstrators set up an inflatable tube which represented the resemblance of Musk and his famous gesture.
Musk said his political interests go beyond the United States. Last year, the CEO launched its support for AFD, or alternative to Germany, approving the German political party far right to its millions of followers on X.
In February, AFD arrived in second place in the German national elections, which represents the best performance of AFD in party history.
A demonstrator and her dog at a Tesla dealer in Detroit. Nic Antaya for Business Insider
Musk’s involvement in national and global affairs may have cost a cost.
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After seeing a summit of $ 1.54 billion in December, Tesla’s shares in recent weeks have decreased in the mid-performance world sales and increasing concerns of investors and Wall Street that Musk is too distracted from his work.
It is difficult to measure to what extent Musk’s policy has had an impact on his electric vehicle company. Tesla sales in Europe for the months of January and February dropped by 42.6% compared to figures for the same period, last year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, selling less than 27,000 vehicles.
A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comments.
The demonstrators of a Tesla exhibition hall in New York, New York, hold Elon Musk panels. Mostafa Bassim / Anadolu via Getty Images
Beyond the demonstrations, dealers and Tesla vehicles have also become a recent target of incidents of vandalism and violence.
On March 24, the Austin Police Department told BI that the police had found “incendiary” devices at a Tesla local dealer. Earlier this month, Oregon police investigated the shots directed against another Tesla building.
Some owners of Tesla Cybertruck have already told Bi that they had been subjected to ridiculous and harassment for the car they had.
“The cybertruck just seems to send people a little on the edge,” said an owner, who asked to remain anonymous. “It makes no sense, I’m not Elon!”
A Cybertruck driver collides with a protester at Tesla Takedown Demonstration in Detroit. Nic Antaya for Business Insider
The Trump administration, including the Ministry of Justice, has promised to repress attacks on Tesla, qualifying the recent wave of incidents of “domestic terrorism”.
“The days to commit crimes without consequences have ended,” said Prosecutor General Pamela Bondi in a statement on March 20. “Whether it is a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against the properties of Tesla, the Ministry of Justice will put you behind bars.”
A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comments.
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