- Global protests at Tesla stores set for February 15 say they’re meant to oppose Elon Musk’s political activity
- Meanwhile, a California anti-Nazi group is leaving notes on Tesla vehicles threatening damage
- In unrelated news: the U.S. State Department halted a proposed $400-million Tesla armored-vehicle contract
Protests are scheduled at Tesla stores worldwide this Saturday, February 15, as part of a grassroots campaign dubbed the “Tesla Takeover.” The demonstrations, largely organized through the Bluesky social media platform, are primarily aimed at Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Participants are calling for a boycott of Tesla, citing Musk’s recent political activity and influence in the U.S. and abroad.
The online campaign gained traction after prominent Bluesky users, including the hacker collective Anonymous, promoted the protest on their accounts. Demonstrators plan to gather at Tesla locations at 11 a.m. local time and use the hashtag #TeslaTakeover. Despite the lack of formal leadership, organizers hope to draw global participation.
California Anti-Nazi Group Threatens Tesla Vehicles
Separately, a group called Students Against Nazi Extremists (SANE) mid-February announced plans to vandalize Tesla cars, trucks, and SUVs in four California cities — Arcata, Hayward, Seaside, and Rohnert Park — unless their owners sold the vehicles. According to local police and reports from the Lost Coast Outpost, the group cited Elon Musk’s political statements and alleged far-right affiliations as their motivation.
Arcata Police confirmed receiving multiple reports of threats and flyers left on Teslas, including one incident where a brick was placed on a vehicle’s windshield with a note stating “No Nazis in America.”
“During the week of February 3, 2025, several Tesla owners residing in the City of Arcata reported discovering suspicious flyers left on their vehicles,” read a statement from the Arcata Police Department. “Law enforcement is aware of this type of activity occurring in communities across the state and is monitoring the situation.”
The question is: Will Musk take note of these coordinated actions levied against him? And if he does, will he even care? More importantly, are these actions aimed at Tesla vehicles and their owners remotely justified? Tesla drivers are not necessarily the problem, after all—
US$400-Million Tesla Armoured Vehicle Contract Halted
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has removed references to a proposed US$400-million purchase of Tesla armoured electric vehicles from its 2025 federal contracts documents. The decision follows the emergence of reports about the planned deal, initially explored under the Biden administration.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed that Tesla was the only manufacturer to express interest in the contract, which would have been the largest federal vehicle purchase of the year.
The agency clarified that no contract had been awarded, and that the entry denoting “Tesla” specifically in the federal procurement system was a data error, which has been corrected to list a generic “electric vehicle manufacturer.” The automaker says it has no plans to fulfill such an order. The State Department indicated that another, separate pending purchase specifically naming German automaker BMW remains under review.
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