Tesla Backlash Intensifies as Protesters Prepare to Flood Showrooms Across the Country | Carscoops

      Demonstrators looking to protest Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk are set to gather at showrooms nationwide on February 15.

      Referred to as the “Tesla Takedown” or “Tesla Takeover” on social media, these protests will occur in various major cities.

      Currently, neither Tesla nor Elon Musk has proposed any strategies to de-escalate the situation following recent events.

      Ten years ago, Elon Musk and Tesla embodied innovation, enjoying adoration from millions for their actions and Musk's tweets. However, the atmosphere surrounding both has shifted significantly. While they still have supporters, a considerable segment of the population seems eager for their downfall, largely due to association.

      The change in public sentiment is so striking that organized protests are planned at Tesla showrooms across the United States, commencing on Saturday, February 15. The organizers have even launched a website to monitor the locations of these demonstrations.

      Labeled as the Tesla Takedown or Tesla Takeover on social media, the protests aim to confront Elon Musk, who has taken a high-profile role within Donald Trump’s administration. The organizing site encourages specific actions: “Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines. Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk. Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy,” it declares. But what has spurred this change in attitude?

      Recently, Musk has faced notable backlash, initially due to a gesture at a political rally that many interpreted as a Sieg Heil salute, followed by his support for the far-right political party AfD in Germany. Currently, he is involved in a high-profile dismantling of US government programs and agencies via DOGE. These actions have not been well-received by all, prompting the upcoming protests.

      The site assisting in organizing the demonstrations reports that events are planned in cities such as Boston, Sacramento, Seattle, and others. It remains uncertain whether large crowds will actually attend, as that will only become clear once the protests take place.

      What is indisputable is that some individuals are taking matters into their own hands, occasionally crossing legal boundaries. Protesters have already projected Musk's image and notorious hand gesture on a Tesla factory in Berlin. In the U.S., numerous Tesla vehicles have fallen victim to vandalism, and more Tesla owners are facing threats concerning similar actions.

      Recently, the group Students Against Nazi Extremism (SANE) left warnings on Teslas in California, threatening to damage the cars if their owners still possessed them by February 12.

      Beyond the issue of car damages, Tesla's sales are significantly down worldwide. The looming question is whether Musk and Tesla will attempt to repair their public image and recover their previous goodwill or if they will simply endure the unrest amid growing protests and escalating negative public sentiment.