United States
Early protests got the attention of online activists, including Alex Winter. Winter started amplifying the protests and related discussions on Bluesky after speaking with sociologist Joan Donovan.[13] Efforts for subsequent rounds of protests were coordinated via the social media hashtags #TeslaTakedown and #TeslaTakover.[14]
On February 15, one of the larger protests happened outside a Tesla showroom in New York City, where protesters could be heard chanting "Elon Musk can go to Mars; we don't need your Nazi cars" referring to the Elon Musk salute controversy and Musk's support for Alternative for Germany and "Burn a Tesla: Save Democracy". Protests also took place in San Francisco, Berkeley, Minneapolis, and Kansas City among others. Musician Sheryl Crow posted to social media a video showing a flatbed truck removing a Tesla she had sold in protest.[15]
Hundreds appeared at a San Francisco showroom on February 19. Workers included Hai Binh Nguyen, who lamented the halting of her work at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau where she takes action against unfair business practices. Protesters also expressed concerns that government services would be privatized and sold off to billionaires.[16]
At an early March protest in New York City, nine individuals were arrested during a demonstration at a Tesla store.[17][18] Hundreds protested outside a store in Owings Mills, Maryland.[19] A protest occurred in Superior, Colorado.[20] Similar protests occurred in cities like Jacksonville, Florida, and in Tucson, Arizona, their numbers grew to nearly 1,800 protesters where participants carried signs with slogans such as "Democracy Unites US".[21]
On March 16, around 100 protesters gathered at a Tesla service center in Stamford, Connecticut at a protest that was organized by the actor and comedian, Mary Beth Barone. Many protesters voiced their support for Senator Chris Murphy.[22]
On March 20, the group held a livestream event with guests including actor John Cusack and Representative Jasmine Crockett.[23] During the meeting, a "day of action" was announced for March 29, with protests planned at all US showrooms, and at other Tesla sites around the world.[24]
On March 29, thousands of people attended protests at Tesla locations.[25] Tesla Takedown said that protests had occurred in over 250 cities around the world.[26] In particular, 100 protesters gathered at a Tesla store in Georgetown, Washington D.C, for a dance party where people danced to disco music and held anti-Musk signs.[27] Elsewhere, a few dozen protesters gathered outside a Tesla store in Dublin, California. A few counter-protesters were seen on the other side of the street.[28]
Protests continued through April and May, even after Musk officially left his advisory position in the Trump administration.[29][30][31] In June 2025, organizers announced their Musk Must Fall protests, planned for cities across the country on Musk's birthday.[32] In response to Tesla's plans to test its robotaxi service, the Tesla Takedown Austin, Texas group hosted a demonstration with The Dawn Project highlighting the safety concerns associated with the Tesla Autopilot capabilities.[33]
