For the second consecutive weekend, protesters gathered outside a Tesla showroom in northwest Austin, voicing their opposition to Elon Musk and urging people to reconsider supporting the electric vehicle maker.
Growing Movement Against Tesla
The demonstration began around 10 a.m. on Saturday near Research Boulevard and U.S. Highway 183, with about a dozen protesters initially. Within an hour, the crowd had swelled to around 100 people, holding signs, chanting, and clanging cowbells.
Unlike last week’s event, which drew counter-protesters, Saturday’s rally was one-sided, with no visible Tesla supporters present.
Calls to Boycott Tesla
Nevin Kamath, a member of Resist Austin and one of the event’s organizers, said the group aimed to dissuade people from buying Teslas or investing in the company, framing it as a form of resistance against Musk’s political influence.
Signs at the protest read:
- “Sell Your Tesla, Sell Your Stock”
- “Nobody Elected Elon” — a reference to President Donald Trump’s recent decision to place Musk in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency, which has since slashed large portions of the federal workforce.
Kamath emphasized the non-violent nature of the protest, saying,
“I believe the right to protest is a right that should be used frequently and fairly, and I do believe we’re doing that today.”
Nationwide Protests and Vandalism
The Austin demonstration was part of a broader wave of protests against Tesla across the country. While the Texas rally remained peaceful, recent incidents of vandalism at Tesla dealerships in other states led U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to label the acts as “domestic terrorism.”
President Trump also weighed in, calling the vandals “sick terrorist thugs.”
Tesla’s Response: ‘Hang On’
In a company-wide meeting on Friday, Musk addressed the mounting backlash and falling stock prices, encouraging employees to “hang on” to their shares despite the turbulence.
“There are times when there are rocky moments … a little bit of stormy weather,” Musk reportedly told staff, referencing the company’s 5-year stock peak in December, which has since seen a sharp decline.
Ongoing Tensions
Resist Austin organizers said they plan to continue weekly protests outside the Austin showroom every Saturday morning. Meanwhile, Tesla’s security measures at its local showrooms remain unclear.
KXAN has reached out to Tesla for a statement regarding its response to the protests and any potential security adjustments but has not yet received a reply.
With the public backlash intensifying and Tesla’s stock price under pressure, the EV maker faces a growing storm of consumer resistance and reputational challenges.
