Tesla protests called “Tesla Takedown” are scheduled for November 15, 2025. This event seeks to draw attention to Elon Musk’s new $1 trillion pay package. The protest will happen in many U.S. cities and countries outside the U.S. The criticism is focused squarely on Musk and the growing influence that comes with his wealth and power.
Main Protest Goals
Activists say they want to push back against “billionaire influence” in politics and tech. The movement urges the public to sell Tesla vehicles, divest Tesla stock, and call out what they view as unhealthy concentration of wealth.
Some activists see Musk’s mega-pay as a danger to democracy. Tesla Takedown organizers describe the effort as peaceful. They encourage local events under the hashtag #NoTrillionaires. The group says the $1 trillion pay plan lets Musk reach a “dangerous” level of power. They state: “His insane trillion-dollar incentive package depends on hitting huge benchmarks. That’s where all of us come in.”
But recent history is not all calm. Earlier in 2025, protests led to several Tesla locations being vandalized. There was firebombing and even gunfire at some showrooms. A handful of protestors were arrested. The official Takedown group now repeats: “We oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property. This protest is a lawful exercise of our First Amendment right to peaceful assembly.”.
Timeline and locations
The Tesla Takedown movement started in early 2025. It has grown, aiming to use economic pressure against Musk. Protest organizers have planned actions for November 15 at Tesla stores across the country. Confirmed sites include dealerships in Chicago, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, Paramus (NJ), Alhambra (CA), and Lyndhurst (OH). Rallies are being organized globally, too.
Protest sizes have varied. Some events draw hundreds. Others are small, but the organizers encourage participants to join or host no matter the turnout.
Background of Musk’s pay package
Tesla’s shareholders voted to approve Musk’s new compensation plan at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting. More than 75% favored the plan. The pay is locked to goals: Tesla must deliver 20 million vehicles total, get 10 million active FSD subscriptions, deliver one million Tesla bots, and put a million robotaxis in service.
If everything is achieved, Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire. He appeared at the 2025 meeting to thank shareholders alongside Tesla’s Optimus robot.
Activist Valerie Costa, one of the movement’s main organizers, publicly stressed the focus should be on financial action, not violence. “Protesting Tesla is ultimately about hitting Elon Musk’s bottom line,” she said.
Congressmen and other political voices have joined the debate. Some call for government pension funds to stop buying Tesla stock. President Trump has even spoken publicly, calling attacks on Tesla dealerships “domestic terrorism”.
Even with falling Tesla sales and drops in share price, the Takedown movement’s wider effect remains uncertain. Still, the November 15 day of action will likely get attention from media, investors, and politicians.
The core message remains. The group believes Musk’s new compensation gives him too much power and poses a threat to fair democracy. They want public and investor pressure to drive change.
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