LONDON

A group of demonstrators gathered on Saturday outside Tesla’s Park Royal showroom in west London on Saturday morning as part of a global day of action against billionaire CEO Elon Musk.

The protest is part of the “Tesla Takedown” movement—a grassroots 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.”

The rally in London is just one of over 200 similar protests taking place at Tesla locations worldwide today, with nearly 50 protests in California alone.

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

Similar protests have been reported in other UK cities, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Bristol, as well as internationally in New York, San Francisco, and Berlin.

'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, explained his presence, saying: “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. He criticized Musk as “the richest man in the world” who, despite his wealth, seeks more —“He wants our money and influence as well.”

Paul also argued that the best way to oppose Musk is through economic resistance. “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.”

She stressed that these leaders appeal to people’s base instincts and that protests like today’s offer a meaningful alternative to the usual political actions. “I wanted to come and do something instead of signing petitions all the time,” she said.

The protest is part of a larger grassroots movement, “Tesla Takedown,” which has been calling for a global boycott of Tesla and other businesses connected to Musk, accusing him of using his fortune to undermine democratic institutions.

Demonstrators say that taking action on the streets, rather than merely signing petitions, is crucial to holding powerful figures like Musk accountable.

As the world’s richest man ignites a political firestorm in Europe, nowhere have Elon Musk’s actions raised more consternation than in the UK, a traditionally close US ally hardly used to such antagonistic comments from across the Atlantic.

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.