The Hostility Towards Tesla is Tangible: From Gunfire to Demonstrations, Dealerships and Owners are Under Attack | Carscoops

      Elon Musk may sincerely believe in his initiatives, but so do those who are protesting against him and Tesla.

      Protests aimed at Elon Musk have spread across various countries, escalating from acts of vandalism to arson.

      These actions include seizing dealerships, igniting charging stations, and, on occasion, using firearms.

      Musk attributes this unrest to leftist political groups, though there is no substantial evidence to support this claim.

      It appears that electric vehicle owners are increasingly distancing themselves from Tesla, showing lower support for Elon Musk than ever before. This may come as a surprise, considering Musk is the prominent figure of Tesla and the electric vehicle movement. A recent study indicated that while more people on the political right are aligning with Musk nowadays, his relationship with EV owners seems to be deteriorating.

      This change in sentiment typically wouldn't be significant, but Musk is not just any businessman—he is Tesla's public representative, and his actions, in both business and politics, are inciting considerable unrest. Rather than remaining in the safe sphere of corporate leadership, Musk seems to have shifted from a CEO role to that of a political lightning rod.

      Protesters Escalating Their Actions

      In recent weeks, we’ve documented several instances of protests against Musk. The supposed leader of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) has generated widespread resentment due to his engagement in government initiatives and his political opinions (both confirmed and speculated).

      Individual Tesla owners have encountered egging, vandalism with stickers, additional vandalism with spray paint, and numerous threats directed at those unwilling to sell their vehicles. Protesters have gone far beyond merely targeting individual owners.

      Vandals have removed wheels from Teslas, presenting a striking metaphor for a directionless company whose CEO spends his time on divisive identity politics to satisfy his inflated ego while the $TSLA stock decreases.

      In several areas, projections have turned Tesla’s own buildings into protest messages. Elsewhere, funds have been used to advertise against both Tesla and Musk. Some dealerships and Tesla's Superchargers have suffered even more severe actions.

      Charging Stations and Dealerships Targeted

      Charging stations across various states have become prime targets for vandals. Some have filled charging ports with foam, completely cut the cables, tagged them with Nazi-themed graffiti, and even set them ablaze. This destructive behavior extends beyond charging stations to dealerships in both the USA and internationally. In one specific case, an individual fired shots into a dealership, damaging Tesla inventory and customer vehicles. Notably, most of these actions are perpetrated by individuals rather than large groups. One might assume that a few isolated incidents would quickly subside, but that is evidently not the case; rather, they seem to be fueling larger protests everywhere.

      Organized Protests

      In New York City, protesters recently occupied Tesla’s dealership in Manhattan, resulting in the arrest of six individuals. Supporters described it as “how we beat fascism.” In Chicago, a protest group marched through the streets in an event named Take Down Tesla, Trump, and Tyranny, with multiple police officers stationed outside a local Tesla dealership for protection.

      In doing so, they somewhat validated the protesters’ claims. A Reddit user remarked, “I wonder if they would protect my small business with that level of force? Oligarchy doing its thing,” emphasizing Musk’s considerable power and influence. In some rare cases, police have even taken steps to safeguard individual vehicles.

      Other protests have witnessed citizens in various cities standing at dealership corners with signs. Numerous groups are calling for the protests to spread and intensify, while Musk seems to be inactive.

      Musk's Perspective

      An investigation revealed that five groups funded by ActBlue are behind the Tesla “protests”: Troublemakers, Disruption Project, Rise & Resist, Indivisible Project, and Democratic Socialists of America. ActBlue’s backers include George Soros, Reid Hoffman, Herbert Sandler, Patricia Bauman, and others, as stated by Musk.

      Musk had anticipated some backlash against his work at DOGE long before Trump assumed the presidency, mentioning in a podcast that such actions would provoke a strong reaction. “The antibody reaction would be very strong. You’re attacking the Matrix at that point. The Matrix will fight back.” Whether it’s the Matrix or simply genuinely frustrated individuals is still up for discussion.

      It’s important to note that, although conspiracy theories exist, no evidence currently connects ActBlue or any significant political entity to these protests. It’s easy to attribute troubling events to shadowy conspiracies, but it’s often more challenging to face the reality of the situation. Prominent political figures like Bernie Sanders—who have no direct link to ActBlue aside from shared political beliefs—have also publicly criticized Musk.

      At this point, it's uncertain if we are observing a purely grassroots movement against Musk, a complex conspiracy, or a combination of both. What is clear, however, is that people are upset with Musk, and they're directing their anger