Why is billionaire Elon Musk facing a boycott?

In recent times, the wave of protests and vandalism targeting Tesla and billionaire Elon Musk has been escalating, with a series of events occurring not only in the US but also spreading to Europe.

In response to this situation, Tesla’s CEO has spoken out to express his indignation and accused the left-wing of being behind these attacks.

Wave of protests spread

In an exclusive interview with Fox News on March 18, Elon Musk spoke candidly about the anti-Tesla protests and vandalism targeting charging stations, parking lots, and showrooms. “I was shocked by the level of hate and violence from the left,” Musk told host Sean Hannity.

These protests are not limited to the United States, but have spread to Europe. In Berlin, Germany, and Wales, England, several protest movements under the slogan “Don’t Buy Tesla” are calling on consumers to reject the company’s products. One of the largest campaigns, called “Tesla Takedown,” was launched on the social network BlueSky, a competitor to billionaire Elon Musk’s X. The campaign calls on Tesla owners to sell their cars and shares to “stop Musk now.” A website affiliated with the campaign lists dozens of protests that have taken place at Tesla showrooms in recent weeks.

The vandalism against Tesla has reached a serious level. Attorney General Pam Bondi called the attacks “nothing short of domestic terrorism,” especially after five Teslas were damaged in a fire at a repair center in Las Vegas. On March 19, San Jose police arrested a man after a video went viral on X, showing him picking a Tesla and claiming he hated billionaire Elon Musk.

Elon Musk has suggested that the protests and vandalism may be part of a political plot against him. “I mean, who is funding and coordinating these movements? This is crazy. I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.

Some analysts say the boycott is due to Musk’s deep involvement in politics. His creation and leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January 2025—an agency tasked with cutting government spending and investigating corrupt programs—has angered many factions. Without naming any groups, Musk has suggested that individuals who benefit from wasteful government spending may be behind the protests against him.

Both President Donald Trump and the Justice Department have spoken out about the situation. Trump is considering classifying the Tesla attacks as “domestic terrorism” and has vowed to hunt down the perpetrators. The Justice Department is also working with federal agencies to investigate the incidents.

Opinion on the issue is divided. Some consumers believe they have the right to boycott Tesla. However, many experts worry that if the situation continues, it could have a serious impact on the electric vehicle industry. Tesla’s stock price has fallen 43% since the beginning of 2025, reflecting the loss of investor confidence.

The boycott of billionaire Elon Musk affects the shares of electric car company Tesla.

Panic among Tesla owners

The protests and vandalism are causing unrest among Tesla owners. Some are selling their cars to avoid the risk, while others are putting stickers on their cars that say, “I bought this before Elon went crazy.” Some Cybertruck owners have also reported encountering hostility from the public while driving on the road.

According to the Wall Street Journal, police in Arcata, California, received reports from four Tesla drivers who had received threatening text messages asking them to sell their cars. In Portland, Oregon, about 350 people protested outside a Tesla dealership last week, while in New York, nine people were arrested during a noisy protest in early March 2025.

Meanwhile, billionaire Elon Musk continues to insist that Tesla is a “peaceful” company and does not do anything harmful. However, he also admits that running Tesla in the current tense political climate is “extremely difficult”.

Once considered a symbol of the electric vehicle revolution, Tesla is now facing one of the biggest crises in its history. According to a 2022 survey by automotive consultancy Strategic Vision, about 22% of US car buyers said they would “definitely consider buying a Tesla” in the future. However, by 2024, that number had dropped to just 7%, on par with lesser-known brands like Lincoln and Dodge.

If Tesla cannot turn things around soon and regain consumer confidence, the brand could face a serious loss of market share in the electric vehicle industry. This poses a challenge for the world’s richest billionaire Elon Musk, will he continue his political path or will he focus on restoring Tesla?