The Tesla Takedown movement, a grassroots initiative opposing Elon Musk’s ventures, has declared its intention to expand its protests beyond Tesla to include SpaceX and Starlink. This announcement follows Tesla’s first-quarter 2025 earnings report, which fell short of expectations. The group attributes this financial downturn to its ongoing demonstrations and campaigns against Musk’s enterprises.
In a statement, Tesla Takedown expressed satisfaction with the perceived impact of their efforts on Tesla’s financial performance. They reported a significant increase in engagement, noting a 53% open rate for their post-earnings email and a 10-15% rise in their BlueSky follower count. Encouraged by these results, the movement is now preparing to target other Musk-led companies, including SpaceX, Starlink, X, and xAI.
Whilst the movement is largely US-based, it is spreading globally, with protests having taken place at Australian Tesla dealerships in April. In the US, France, UK, and Germany, it has gone beyond civil protest, with Tesla vehicles having been set on fire, vandalised, and one dealership firebombed (Wikipedia now has a page dedicated to the topic).
Context & Background
The Tesla Takedown movement emerged in early 2025 as a response to Elon Musk’s involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established by President Donald Trump. The group’s primary objective is to economically impact Musk’s ventures through organized protests, boycotts, and shareholder activism. Their activities have included demonstrations at Tesla stores and Supercharger stations worldwide, urging the public to divest from Tesla products and stock.
Despite the movement’s claims of influencing Tesla’s financial performance, it’s important to note that Tesla’s first-quarter 2025 earnings were also affected by the temporary halt in Model Y sales due to a model changeover. This factor complicates the assessment of the movement’s direct impact on the company’s financial results.
In This Story
Elon Musk
Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla, Inc., SpaceX, and other ventures. He is known for his influential role in the technology and space industries.
Tesla Takedown
Tesla Takedown is a grassroots protest movement that arose in early 2025 targeting Tesla, Inc. and its CEO, Elon Musk. The movement organizes demonstrations and campaigns aimed at economically impacting Musk’s ventures.
SpaceX
SpaceX is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company founded by Elon Musk. It is known for developing the Falcon and Starship launch vehicles.
Starlink
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, providing satellite Internet access coverage to over 60 countries.
X
X is a social media platform formerly known as Twitter, acquired by Elon Musk in 2022.
xAI
xAI is an artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, focusing on developing advanced AI technologies.
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