Anti-Elon Musk activists bid to go viral with new video campaign

Political activists Led By Donkeys have used a Tesla to write a giant message on Black Rock Sands beach in Wales as part of its campaign against Elon Musk and the US EV brand.

The video has been viewed over 30,000 times since being posted on March 17 and has been picked up by mainstream media outlets.

A decription for the video states: "Thousands of people are ditching Tesla. Here’s one of them with a message you can see from space."

Professor Jim Saker, regular Automotive Management contributor and president of the Institute of the Motor Industry, recently shared his views on Musk's political leanings and the impact to the brand and its volumes, as well as Led By Donkeys' other campaigns that have targeted the business.

Vandals in at Tesla's Belfast dealership smashed up 20 vehicles and there have been recent protests in major cities in the US against Elon Musk and the brand.

Despite the recent brand sentiment from some customers, used Tesla sales have reached a new record level in the UK.

Car dealers sold 2,690 Teslas in February, the highest level ever sold in one month, according to data from Marketcheck.

February figures represent a 112% increase from the total used Teslas sold a year earlier in February 2024 (1,267).

Meanwhile, Tesla's new car sales dropped by 45% across Europe from 18,161 to 9,945 units year-on-year in January.

The US electric vehicle brand's share price has dropped by 9% and the company has been swept up by wider controversy caused by the company's chief executive Elon Musk.

Tesla's CEO made a controversial hand salute as part of US President Donald Trump's inauguration rally towards the end of January.