More than 200 'Tesla Takedown' protests planned this weekend including in the UK
Tesla has become a lightning rod for violent attacks and vandalism in the months since CEO Elon Musk joined the Trump administration and now protests have spread to the UK
More than 200 protests against Elon Musk are scheduled for tomorrow, including across the UK.
Dubbed the ‘Tesla Takedown’” the coordinated action aims to hurt the electric car maker’s sales and stock price while drawing attention to the billionaire’s growing alignment with the right-wing and Donald Trump. Activists have set a goal of 500 demonstrations worldwide.
Tesla showrooms across Britain have been put on high alert as protestors are expected to gather in multiple cities, including London, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, and Winchester. The movement, which describes itself as a grassroots campaign, claims to be fighting against Musk’s alleged role in “promoting authoritarians, disinformation, and fossil fuels around the globe.” Organisers accuse Musk of using his platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), to amplify far-right voices and conspiracy theories.
The backlash against the South African has intensified in recent months, particularly as he strengthens ties with Trump following the US presidential election. He has also been inundated with attacks after twice appearing to make a Nazi salute on inauguration day. Critics argue that Musk’s public and financial support of the former president has alienated key markets and investors.
“Tesla has been built on the backs of progressives and climate-conscious consumers,” said Damian Stewart, a UK-based protestor. “Now, Musk is aligning himself with Trump and the far right, which is the complete opposite of the values Tesla was meant to stand for.”
The latest wave of demonstrations follows a string of recent attacks on the electric carmaker. Earlier this month, police in Austin, Texas, where Tesla is headquartered, discovered what they described as “incendiary devices” inside an abandoned vehicle outside a Tesla dealership. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the act was linked to anti-Musk activism, but it has heightened tensions between the company and its critics.
Meanwhile, Tesla's stock price has sharply declined over the past year, with analysts attributing part of the slump to growing consumer disillusionment with Musk himself. In addition to political controversies, the billionaire has faced criticism for the mass layoffs he has overseen within the US Government.
Although not an elected official, Trump has appointed the businessman to oversee an efficiency department that has seen a purge in US federal departments. The protests across the UK, however, signal that the backlash against Musk is not confined to the States.
Many former Tesla supporters in Britain, particularly those who once admired Musk’s role in advancing electric vehicles, are now turning against him.
“Elon Musk had an opportunity to be a true leader in sustainable energy,” added Stewart. “Instead, he’s throwing his lot in with extremists. That’s why we’re protesting, to send a message that his actions have consequences. We can only hope we manage to hit him where he most cares about - his pocket.”
The plan for a day of mass demonstrations follows a series of violent incidents across the States. Anti-Musk activists have been accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla facilities in Colorado, Nevada and Oregon and defacing Tesla vehicles there, and on Monday, authorities said they found multiple “incendiary devices” at a Tesla location in Texas.
Last weekend, two pro-Musk men were arrested in separate incidents at Tesla showrooms: one for taking out a stun gun at a protest in California and one for driving toward protesters in Florida.
In the second incident, a man in West Palm Beach, Florida, was charged with assault after police said he drove over a curb toward a crowd of protesters and narrowly missed them.
The man, Andrew Dutil, appeared to have shared content supporting Trump on Facebook. According to court and jail records, he pleaded not guilty and was released on a $50,000 (£38,600) bond.
Some organisers have expressed concern about the possibility of tense or hostile confrontations this weekend, including with drivers who might want to use their vehicles as weapons.
“That is scary,” said Connie James-Jenkin, who has helped to organize anti-Tesla protests near Chicago. “It’s scary that people would do that, and we did have a discussion about it,” she said, adding that she and other organizers discussed precautions such as standing back farther from the curb.