‘No one voted for Elon:’ Activists call for boycott of Tesla

LONDON (AA) – A group of demonstrators gathered outside Tesla’s Park Royal showroom in west London as part of a global day of action against Elon Musk.

The protest was part of the “Tesla Takedown” movement—a campaign accusing Musk of using his wealth to “destroy democracy” and “shred public services.”

Protesters were seen holding placards and banners with slogans like “Don’t buy Nazi cars,” “Don’t fund fascists,” and a large display reading: “Honk if you hate Elon.”

More than 200 similar protests took place at Tesla locations worldwide, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, New York, San Francisco, and Berlin.

The campaign, which has gained significant momentum, calls for consumers to boycott Tesla, sell their shares, and join local picket lines in peaceful demonstrations against Musk’s influence.

‘No one voted for Elon’

“No one voted for Elon,” said Vickie Mueller Olvera, an organizer from the Bay Area. “He’s an unelected super-billionaire and he’s a thug.”

One protester, Nigel, said: “I’m here because I believe absolutely in democracy and what has happened is that the US has turned against democracy.”

He emphasized the power of ordinary people in Europe to make a difference, urging a boycott of Musk’s businesses to cripple his economic power.

“The only direct way I can see we can do it is by trying to destroy the economic viability of Musk’s business,” he said. “We’ve got to stop the sales of Musk’s cars and his businesses, and that will have a big impact back in the States.”

Nigel called for a larger movement, saying: “We need thousands of people to come to demonstrations like this regularly, all over Britain, all over Europe, outside Tesla showrooms.”

‘Elon Musk is unelected, and he has too much power’

Paul, another protester, echoed Nigel’s sentiments and expanded on the broader influence of Musk.

“I’m here today to protest what Elon Musk is doing, not only in the US, but spreading his influence over here to our democracies,” Paul said.  “The only way to show your hatred is to boycott Tesla. Avoid his products because that is his weakness. He needs us to spend money on his stupid cars,” he said.

“If you want an EV, by all means, get one, but buy something else. Do not buy Tesla, simple as that.”

Another protester added a sharper critique of both Musk and other powerful figures, saying, “Elon Musk is unelected, and he has too much power, as do all the tech bros. And Trump is the devil incarnate, and the western world is getting much more right-wing.”

Musk’s attacks on the British government and politicians have ranged from grave accusations of covering up grooming gang crimes to straight-out calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s sacking.

His alleged anti-migrant and Islamophobic rhetoric, and avowed support for far-right figures in the UK and across Europe have drawn widespread condemnation, fueling debate over foreign influence, free speech, and the role of social media in modern politics.