Protesters have gathered outside Tesla’s Park Royal showroom in west London as part of a global day of action against Elon Musk.
Demonstrators holding placards urging consumers to boycott Musk’s company have now assembled outside the dealership. Signs at the protest include slogans such as “Don’t buy Nazi cars” and “Don’t fund fascists”. A large banner displayed at the scene reads: “Honk if you hate Elon.”
The London rally, which began at 11am, is part of the “Tesla Takedown” movement—a grassroots campaign accusing Musk of using his fortune to “destroy democracy” and “shred public services”. Similar demonstrations are planned today at more than 200 Tesla locations worldwide, including nearly 50 in California alone.
Organisers say the campaign is their largest yet, with protests in other UK cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Bristol, as well as internationally in New York, San Francisco, and Berlin.
Activists are calling on the public to boycott Tesla, sell their shares, and join local picket lines as part of what they describe as a peaceful campaign to hold the billionaire CEO to account.
“No one voted for Elon,” said Bay Area organiser Vickie Mueller Olvera. “He’s an unelected super-billionaire and he’s a thug.”
Tesla Takedown describes itself as a decentralised movement made up of local groups who plan to “protest Tesla for as long as Elon Musk continues to shred public services.”
Follow our live blog below for the latest from the London protest and updates from demonstrations around the world throughout the day.
In pictures: Protesters gathered outside Tesla dealership in London
17:01 , Megan HoweA group of protesters gathered outside a Tesla dealership in Acton, west London today, holding placards which read ‘Honk if you hate Elon’ and ‘Musk is destroying democracy.’
Tesla Takedown protests go ahead in Bristol and Glasgow as well as London
13:32 , Josh ButlerRunning alongside the London protest, similar demonstrations have been held against Elon Musk outside his Tesla dealerships in other parts of the UK.
Campaigners have been seen sporting signs and slogans in Bristol and Glasgow, with the gatherings planned as part of the “global day of action” for the Tesla Takedown movement.
Protesters with placards have gathered outside the Tesla dealership in north Bristol this morning, to protest against Elon Musk
— Tristan Cork Post (@TristanCorkPost) March 29, 2025
📸@PaulGillisphoto pic.twitter.com/m3bgJmCnm3
Tesla Takedown peaceful protest takes place in Glasgow in global day of action https://t.co/EQkIhhHcNu
— Glasgow Times (@Glasgow_Times) March 29, 2025
Protesters hear speeches hitting out at Musk's "unreasonable" behaviour
13:04 , Josh ButlerSpeeches decrying Elon Musk for “unreasonable” behaviour have been made to protesters outside Tesla’s London Park Royal showroom.
John, speaking into a megaphone to around 50 people, hit out at Musk for cutting aid to vulnerable parts of the world, threatening democracy and forcing him and other campaigners to give up their Saturday to oppose him.
He said: “There are better ways to spend a beautiful spring Saturday, but we want to protect the UK from what is happening in America.”
John attacked the Tesla billionaire for spearheading the cuts to USAID which, he claims, have left some of the most vulnerable people without life-saving funding.
He argued that people should do more than reading and getting angry about the news, emphasising the need for physical protests.
He said: “Musk would like us to think that it is enough just to read, to scroll and to feel powerless.”
The crowd greeted his speech with loud boos directed at Elon Musk.
'Elon Musk is a very bad boy': Protester urges boycott in the name of democracy
12:36 , Josh ButlerOne protester has warned that Elon Musk is a threat to democracy and that people around the world should join in protesting.
Paul, who stood brandishing a shoulder-high sign which read “Bankrupt Elon” as he pumped his fist to passing traffic, said: “Elon Musk is a very bad boy.
“What he is doing to democracy around the world, we should all protest.”
Paul urged people not to buy Musk’s products, arguing that consumers should not support his actions as part of the Trump administration.
He said: “He’s already the de facto president of the United States.
“Buy something else, do not buy Tesla.”
Pictured: Protesters gather outside Tesla's London showroom demanding boycott of Elon Musk's firm
12:22 , Josh Butler.jpg)
"I am devested at what is happening to our country" American expresses anger at Musk and Trump
12:11 , Josh ButlerAn American expatriate has expressed shock and sadness at what she perceives the Trump administration along with Elon Musk is doing in the US.
Anne Kajava, holding two signs and a dog, said: “I am devastated by what is happening to our country becauase of the Trump-Musk Regime.”
She described many of the administrations recent actions as a “travesty”, including the shuttering of USAID and the demand for a minerals deal from Ukraine in exchange for US help to end the Russian invasion.
She added: “Countries aren't for sale, you know, you can't just take like this.
“All these things point to a lack of humanity and frankly a lack of democracy and that’s why I am here today.”
Ms Kajava said that she has a lot of friends family in the US and in Mexico, and even went back to the states during the election to hold a ‘dog people for Kamala’ event.
Protesters "fear for the future" as they campaign against Tesla and Musk
11:44 , Josh ButlerThree women at the protest said that their concern for the future of politics and democracy motivated them to join the demonstration against Musk’s Tesla company.
Sue said: “I fear for the future of the whole world and I think we live in terrible times with Trump.
“I’ve never seen anything like this since the second world war, not to have someone decent leading the states.
“He is a dreadful man, they are all horrible men.”
Sue also expressed sympathy for Prime Minister Starmer, who has to deal professionally with Elon Musk and Donald Trump, but she said that she did not have show the same respect.
She said that she hopes her actions today will draw awareness to those living in London.
Julie, holding a sign reading “Mums for Equality” expressed concern that billionaires and ‘tech bros’ such as Elon Musk were enriching themselves at the expense of the majority, and that Musk’s actions in government were mainly meant to further his own personal power and wealth.
Another woman, who is from the US but moved to London a few years ago, said that she found Londoners were better informed on what Musk and President Trump were doing, compared to her family and friends in the states.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I am here because of my family, I have younger siblings back home and I worry about their future.
“I hope that we can raise awareness so that more people decide to look into what is really happening.”
Protesters gather in London Royal Park with signs calling Teslas "Nazi cars"
11:24 , Josh ButlerProtesters have gathered outside the Tesla dealership in London Royal Park brandishing signs urging consumers to boycott Elon Musk’s company.
One sign read “Don’t buy Nazi cars”, while another said: “Don’t fund fascists.”
A large sign has also been put up which asks motorists to “Honk if you hate Elon.”
An American flag is also being held purposefully upside down.
Protests planned across the UK and around the world
11:14 , Josh ButlerThe Action Network website shows nine Tesla Takedown protests planned for today across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Along with the demonstration in London, there are to be protests in Winchester, Bristol, Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast.
The campaign page urges people to: “Sell your Teslas. Dump your stock!”
These protests come alongside similar action planned to take place across the globe, with many demonstrations in Europe, one in Australia, one in New Zealand and over a hundred in the US.
Today marks "global day of action" for the growing Tesla Takedown movement
09:57 , Josh ButlerToday’s protest in London comes as part of an international effort to boycott and pressure Tesla over its founder, Elon Musk’s, political controversies.
This month has seen action outside many dealerships across the US, and in California in particular, with today being dubbed the “global day of action” for a growing Tesla Takedown movement.
Most have been peaceful demonstrations involving chants and anti-Musk/Trump signs calling on consumers to stop buying the electric vehicles in order to hinder the current administration.
However, there have been instances of violence, with vandals shooting bullets into Tesla showrooms, setting the cars on fire and spray-painting those found on the street.
President Trump has committed to a crackdown on such behaviour, with Elon Musk saying in a Fox News interview: “The president’s made it clear: We’re going to go after them.”
A protest on 8 March saw hundreds of New Yorkers occupied a Tesla dealership in Manhattan, with six being arrested after police removed the protesters.
One activist said while waiting to be put into a police vehicle: “I’m getting arrested today protesting Elon Musk.
“He bought his way into power at the expense of the American people.”
BREAKING: HUNDREDS of New Yorkers have swarmed and shut down the Tesla dealer in Manhattan. Six have been arrested after occupying the showroom. Protests are erupting across America to reject Musk's billionaire regime. This is how we beat fascism.
— Planet Over Profit (@pop4climate) March 8, 2025
Mass direct action. pic.twitter.com/jTQ4yxlpOd
How Musk has sparked backlash as head of DOGE
09:23 , Josh ButlerAs head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk has already made a number of deeply controversial attempts to trim the scope of the US federal government.
From sending email ultimatums to government employees, to gutting the departments of health and education, to cancelling vast amounts of US foreign aid, the recent Tesla protests come amid a wave of criticism levelled at the tech billionaire.
The official “DOGE Savings” website states that the task force has already made $130 billion worth of cuts, amounting to $807 of savings for each American taxpayer.
This figure is disputed, however, with only 30% of the headline sum being accounted for in published receipts.
Furthermore, of these receipts, the Musk Watch DOGE Tracker designed by data analyst Brian Banks claims that only $7.7 billion can be verified in actual savings from contracts and real estate.
The cuts so far have targeted the Department of Health and the Department of Education in particular, as well as USAID.
USAID has been shuttered in all but name, with many arguing that the abrupt withdrawing of financial aid to vulnerable parts of the world has caused chaos for those regions which rely on US money for health care, food and other essential needs.
The cuts have continued even after a court found that the dismantling of USAID was likely unconstitutional, with The State Department recently stating it: "will seek to retire USAID's independent operation.”
Mr Musk also courted criticism by sending an email ultimatum in February which asked Federal workers to “list their accomplishments” over the last week, with failure to respond being “taken as a resignation”.
Many departments reacted by sending their own memos to employees asking them not to respond and questioning Musk’s authority to send such an email.
London protesters to target Tesla over claims Musk is ‘destroying democracy’
09:20 , Sami QuadriA major protest targeting Tesla is set to take place in London this weekend as part of a global day of action.
The Tesla Takedown campaign will hold a demonstration outside the Tesla dealership at Park Royal in west London on Saturday, 29 March at 11am. The protest is part of a wider international movement against Tesla CEO Elon Musk, with coordinated events also planned in Bristol, Glasgow, and across the United States and Europe.
The campaign describes itself as a peaceful, grassroots movement aiming to challenge Musk’s political influence and his use of wealth to advance what organisers call anti-democratic agendas.
In a statement, organisers said: “Elon Musk is destroying democracy around the world, and he's using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it. We are taking nonviolent action at Tesla to stop Musk.
“Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines. We're tanking Tesla's stock price to stop Musk. Stopping Musk will help save lives and protect our democracy. The stakes couldn’t be higher. No one is coming to save us. Not politicians, not the media, not the courts.
“Tesla Takedown is a peaceful protest movement. We oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property.”
Dip in Tesla stock may reflect distaste for Musk's politics
08:36 , Josh ButlerTesla stock has drastically decreased since Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began making controversial cuts to the US federal government.
Since President Trump’s inauguration the share price has dipped 35%, with Musk’s political unpopularity being the obvious cause.
This change in consumer attitudes to the electric vehicles has seen the second-hand Tesla market plumet, with one report suggesting that the overall price of used Tesla’s has fallen 22% since February last year.
For those that find themselves already saddled with a Tesla vehicle, many are using stickers to signal their distaste for Mr Musk’s political involvement.
These have read: “I bought this before Elon went crazy”, and “Love the car, not the CEO”.
Tesla Drivers are now putting these stickers 🙉😂 pic.twitter.com/H6LE0lbDHW
— Nkulunkulu (@Nkulunkulu_God) February 23, 2025
The protests taking place today seek to put pressure on the billionaire by further tanking his main source of wealth, being Tesla stock.
That said, Tesla shares remain slightly up since the US election in November and still significantly up, over 50%, from this time last year.
