What to
Know About the Backlash Against Tesla
Elon Musk’s
electric carmaker faces serious headwinds amid his involvement with right-wing
politics and the Trump administration.
John Yoon
By John Yoon
March 19,
2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/business/tesla-musk-trump-backlash.html
Tesla, Elon
Musk’s carmaker, has faced protests, vandalism and plummeting stock prices amid
the billionaire’s involvement with right-wing politics and the Trump
administration, as buyers turn away and protesters criticize his growing
influence.
Over the
past decade, Tesla has gone from a disruptive newcomer in the auto industry to
America’s best-selling electric-vehicle brand. But recently, its dealerships
have been attacked and many owners have sold their vehicles.
Some buyers
who had been drawn to Tesla’s eco-friendly image began losing patience with Mr.
Musk after he bought Twitter, which he renamed X, in 2022. He alienated many
consumers further when he endorsed Donald J. Trump in last year’s presidential
election and spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help his
campaign.
For some,
the deal-breaker came when Mr. Musk made a gesture that resembled a fascist
salute while speaking at a rally celebrating President Trump’s inauguration in
January. And with Mr. Trump back in office, Mr. Musk, the world’s richest
person, has been empowered to make sweeping cuts to federal agencies and fire
government workers, fueling anger against him.
Here’s a
look at the backlash against Tesla.
Vandals have
targeted Tesla dealerships.
Vandals have
defaced or destroyed Tesla vehicles and damaged the company’s facilities in at
least seven locations across the United States, from Oregon to Massachusetts,
over the past month. Shots have been fired at a building, dealership windows
have been broken and charging stations have been set on fire. No serious
injuries have been reported.
Attorney
General Pam Bondi on Tuesday labeled the episodes acts of “domestic terrorism”
directed at Mr. Musk, echoing comments by Mr. Trump. If convicted, some of
those accused could face sentences of at least five years in prison, Ms. Bondi
said, although she did not specify what charges could be brought.
Protesters
across the United States and Europe have also urged Tesla owners to sell their
cars, along with shares of the company’s stock. Several hundred protesters
recently gathered outside a Tesla showroom in Manhattan, with many chanting,
“Nobody voted for Elon Musk.”
Owners have
sold their Teslas.
Tesla owners
in the United States and overseas have said they are selling their vehicles
because they feel alienated by Mr. Musk’s values and politics. Some drivers
said they reached the decision after being harassed for owning a Tesla.
Senator Mark
Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, said in a post on X last week that he was selling
his Tesla and getting a new vehicle. He later said that he had purchased a
Chevrolet Tahoe.
“I bought a Tesla because it was fast
like a rocket ship,” he wrote in the post. “But now every time I drive it, I
feel like a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting
people. So Tesla, you’re fired!”
Tesla shares
have plummeted.
Tesla’s
investors have grown concerned that Mr. Musk is spending too much time in
Washington and that his immersion in right-wing politics is alienating buyers.
As of
Tuesday morning, the company’s share price had dropped by 47 percent since Mr.
Trump’s second term began. The decline has far outpaced that of the S&P 500
index, which has fallen about 7 percent in the same period.
Sales are
also slumping. Tesla sales in the United States fell by 5.6 percent last year,
to about 634,000 cars, according to Kelley Blue Book, a vehicle valuation
company. It was the first yearly decline in sales in the company’s history.
John Yoon is
a Times reporter based in Seoul who covers breaking and trending news. More
about John Yoon
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