There are now weekly protests at Tesla showrooms and charging stations under the banner of TeslaTakedown, in response to Elon Musk’s political behaviour.
The movement is gaining momentum, with police having to get involved and the government threatening prosecution against those involved in vandalism or violence.
Some have pointed out that Tesla’s vehicles are actually rather poor in quality and the company’s missed ship dates and big claims about its self-driving tech and autopilot have not delivered.
Niedermeyer, a leading organiser in the Oregon protests, says the disconnect between the “myth” of Tesla and the reality is becoming a global protest movement that is fast becoming the defining story of Tesla’s next chapter.
Popular YouTubers are now pointing out that some of Tesla’s claims and hype around its vehicles and technology are not accurate.