By Ricardo Lezama 
In a wave of demonstrations spanning the entire United States, protesters have gathered at various Tesla locations, channeling their concerns about the electric vehicle giant into a series of spirited protests. The protests decried Elon Musk’s participation in government, the Nazi salute and the nature of his government cuts.
Protests in cities like Tucson, San Francisco and New York City utilized signs and performances to express their discontent but also the general utility of the vehicles. For many consumers, the decline in Tesla’s brand value also has something to do with the actual vehicle themselves. Full Self Driving (FSD) has long been held as the prime motivation for investors and new adopters of Electric Vehicle (EV).
However, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode has faced ongoing scrutiny and is widely considered unreliable by safety experts. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have investigated multiple incidents involving FSD-related malfunctions, including unexpected braking and steering behavior during autonomous operation. Last week, Tesla issued a full recall of all 49,000 Cybertrucks sold to date due to concerns over flimsy trim panels on the vehicle’s exterior. These panels, which serve primarily as aesthetic accents, have been reported to loosen or detach while driving, raising safety and design compliance concerns.
Moreover, several auto safety analysts have raised alarms about the Cybertruck’s structural design, particularly its ultra-hard stainless steel exoskeleton. Critics argue that the rigid steel panels, while protective for occupants inside the Cybertruck, could pose a heightened risk to others in multi-vehicle collisions. Some vehicle safety experts warn that the sharp angular edges and unyielding structure could act as a wedge during side-impact crashes, potentially increasing the fatality risk for occupants of smaller vehicles.
Tucson, Arizona
Great turnout for the anti-Musk protest outside the Tucson Tesla dealership pic.twitter.com/CEnoBfE6J4
— Andy Flach 🌵 (@AndyfromTucson) March 29, 2025
One notable scene from the Tucson protest showcased attendees participating in an electric slide, with social media users highlighting their favorite protest signs. The crazy elements around this protests highlight how much vitriol is directed at Elon Musk.
Tucson right now!!!Resist!!
— Noonan (@noonan85.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 12:47 PM
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With participation numbers hitting around 2 thousand people at certain protests, the rallies have been buoyed by organic grassroots efforts rather than commercial interests. “The best part of the Tesla protests, regular grassroots people. Love the free expression with homemade signs,” one user remarked. As the movement continues to grow, various protests have gained momentum under the hashtag #TeslaTakedown. In cities like Boulder and Denver, further large-scale protests are planned for next week, encouraging individuals to join their local events via the website www.mobilize.us/handsoff.
In West Chester, Pennsylvania, a particularly tense moment unfolded when a dealership employee confronted older protesters, prompting police intervention to maintain safety.
In New York City, there were other protests against both Trump, Musk and the overall direction of DOGE cuts:
NOW: "Burn a Tesla, Save Democracy" reads banner outside Manhattan Tesla Showroom during 'Takedown Tesla' protest in NYC pic.twitter.com/DGOOgiAD7j
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) March 29, 2025
California Protests
Conversely, the protests in California witnessed salespeople claiming that the demonstrations inadvertently helped their sales, a sentiment many attendees found puzzling. “Weird we had in California a huge Tesla protest the salesman said the protest was helping them,” noted one protester.
#TeslaTakedown on Centinela Los Angeles
— KittyAKAJody (@kittywestmeow.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 5:35 PM
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Recent reports of a stalled Waymo self-driving car in Los Angeles added a surreal twist to the day’s events, further demonstrating the ongoing evolution of transportation technology in the area. For some, though, anything besides Tesla is fine, which should be alarming investors at this point. If they can’t halt them at points of sale, then the word of mouth concept may be waning on potential sales.
San Francisco for its part held some of the bigger expressions of Tesla outrage.
#teslatakedown San Francisco
— greyhoundx.bsky.social (@greyhoundx.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 3:16 PM
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Tesla Takedown
As the Tesla protest movement continues to gain traction, it elicits a spectrum of responses, revealing the deep-seated feelings surrounding technological change and corporate responsibility in the United States. Free speech, community engagement, and artistic expression remain central to the movement, with participants emphasizing their dedication to voicing concerns and driving potential change. There is also a strong and almost defining concern with anti-Fascism because of the extreme influence exerted by the world’s most monied man.