Protests have erupted at Tesla showrooms across the United States in response to Elon Musk’s government cost-cutting measures. In response to Musk’s association with President Donald Trump’s administration, many Tesla owners are reportedly ditching their vehicles in protest.
Everyday drivers and celebrities are apparently selling their cars to oppose Elon Musk’s leadership of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his wider endorsement of Trump’s policies.
Mobs of protesters gathered outside Tesla showrooms in New York, Seattle, Kansas City, and throughout California. Though the protests were dispersed, they underscored the potential risks to Tesla due to Musk’s alignment with Trump’s far-right agenda.
Demonstrators are comparing the Trump administration to Nazis. Leading the DOGE, Musk has been dismantling government agencies and laying off federal workers, actions some constitutional experts deem illegal. Tesla investors are concerned that Musk’s ties to Trump, including a $200m investment in the election campaign, might harm sales, especially in liberal regions like California, a major market for electric cars, as opposed to the Republican-led administration’s stance against the technology.
Although recent data indicates that both the DOGE and the Trump administration are having relatively high approval ratings in the U.S, other surveys reveal that Musk’s political involvement is persuading many to sell their cars or discouraging them from buying in the first place.
A January poll by Electrifying.com revealed that 59% of prospective car buyers were deterred from purchasing a Tesla due to Musk’s leadership. Similarly, 61% of current electric car owners expressed openness to buying Chinese-made alternatives. In a separate survey by EenVandaag, 31% of Tesla owners considered selling or had already sold their cars because of Musk’s actions, with 40% feeling ashamed to drive their vehicles due to his behavior and politics. Some attribute Tesla’s poor sales in Europe to Musk’s political involvement, while others blame the outdated product lineup and growing competition. Canadian owner Alain Roy is selling his Teslas and canceling his Cybertruck order in response to Musk’s political actions and Trump’s treatment of Canada.
Tesla sales saw a sharp decline in Germany to Musk’s December endorsement of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). The company’s sales in Germany dropped 60% year-on-year in January. The brand might face political backlash in other forms. This week, Ed Davey, leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrats, suggested that the Labour government should impose tariffs on Tesla cars in response to the White House’s steel import.
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