Musk You Later: Bay Area Protests Shake Up the Tesla Fan Club

blue coupe parked beside white wall

Elon Musk may have engineered the electric car revolution, but he’s now facing a storm of protests that are anything but quiet. With Tesla’s stock hitting a bumpy road, some owners are opting to offload their cars while chanting catchy slogans against Musk’s recent political escapades.

In San Francisco, a lively protest strung together disgruntled Tesla owners as they rallied outside the dealership. Regular protester Jeff, who’s been driving his Tesla for 12 years, expressed his growing frustrations with Musk’s antics. He’s not ready to say goodbye just yet, however. After shelling out $2,000 for a lifetime charging deal, he plans to stick it out, although he cheekily noted, “They won’t get free charging, which lets Elon off the hook”.

Jeff decided to take matters into his own hands by covering up his Tesla logo and slapping on a bold bumper sticker that reads, “I bought this car when Elon was sane”. Because apparently being a Tesla owner comes with a sensitive psychic bond to reality.

This protest isn’t just some casual gathering. It’s fueled by Musk’s controversial involvement in the new government department targeting efficiency, which many claim is directly responsible for the layoffs of countless federal workers. The outcry is noticeable: there’s quite the spike in used Teslas popping up on Facebook Marketplace, with many being sold at discounted prices, a sign that even loyal fans are losing that loving feeling.

Other stories of Tesla owners scratching their heads in confusion have surfaced, including one from Julie Marsh, who reported that a conservative friend turned in her son’s lease out of embarrassment for being associated with the car. It can get that chaotic!

Meanwhile, reports of vandalism and other nefarious acts targeting Tesla facilities have further ignited the protests. With arson at a charging station in Massachusetts last week, it’s clear that the mood is as heated as a neglected Tesla battery.

As protests continue to crop up at dealerships across the country, one thing is certain: Tesla’s high-speed ride is hitting a few potholes, and the Bay Area is leading the charge with a sass that won’t go unnoticed.

AUTHOR: tgc

SOURCE: NBC Bay Area