Whether to boycott Tesla
Should we? And what would that require?
A boycott is an organized refusal to buy something from the target of the boycott for political reasons. People agree to withhold a purchase to communicate a political message. Tesla sales have dropped sharply since Elon Musk became part of the government.1 It can work.
Before going further, clarifying what is not a boycott may be necessary. One website says, “Sell your Teslas, dump your stock.”2 Another writer answers, “Count me out of the Tesla boycott” because “I’m keeping my Tesla.”3 These folks are not talking about a boycott at all; they are discussing whether to sell or keep a Tesla. That decision has nothing to do with a boycott. Whether someone who already owns a Tesla sells their used Tesla to someone else makes no difference to Tesla or Elon Musk.4
The question whether to boycott Tesla (refuse to buy cars from Tesla for political reasons) is not easy for me. On the one hand, I favor boycotts and directing investments away from companies that are complicit in empowering Donald Trump.5 Most people have very few options for communicating their views. Driving Tesla’s sales downward by refusing to purchase Tesla products is one meaningful way to be heard. Much of Elon Musk’s wealth derives from Tesla stock; if the share price dropped low enough, he or the board might get the message that his interventions in U.S. government are reviled. And other CEOs might think twice before swearing allegiance to Trump.
On the other hand, Tesla is a good company. It is a green company. It is the largest auto manufacturer in California and employs thousands of people in the Bay Area.6 It has inspired a revolution in electric vehicles. Our air is cleaner because of Tesla. It makes cool cars. Boycotting a good company because its owner has gone off the deep end may be counterproductive, especially if the next best alternative is a gas-powered vehicle.
Consider this. Suppose there was a great nation. For decades, it promoted peace, prosperity, and democracy. It made mistakes, but fundamentally it was an ally and protector of other free nations. After many years of good leadership, through a confluence of remarkable events, that great nation elected an erratic tyrant who abruptly incinerated the nation’s relationships with allies. How should other countries respond? If this fallen nation is us (hint: it is), then I hope other nations will be able to distinguish between the nation’s president and its citizens.
In this and most situations, the question is how to balance costs and benefits. If consumers stopped buying Teslas entirely and for long enough, the company would fold and go away. Thousands would lose their jobs. This would be bad for autoworkers in California and Texas. And probably not great for air quality or innovation either.
But what about a somewhat different story: perhaps if consumers communicate clearly enough that Musk has turned Tesla into a radioactive brand, then the board will replace him with someone else, and everyone can come off the sidelines and buy their new Tesla, from Tesla. Wouldn’t that be great? Unfortunately, Musk would still own billions of dollars in stock, but that cannot be helped without destroying the company itself. But again, a forced ouster might slow him down. It might persuade other CEOs not to turn their personal fortunes into malign political influence, especially for Trump. This is economic democracy, and it’s what we have left.
In conclusion: Don’t buy a Tesla from Tesla … until Elon is gone. Then buy one.
www.nasdaq.com/articles/tesla-sales-plummeting-early-2025; www.cnn.com/2025/03/06/business/musk-trump-tesla-shares-slide/index.html; www.vox.com/politics/403371/tesla-boycott-trump-elon-musk-doge; www.vanityfair.com/news/story/tesla-dealership-attacks-elon-musk-protests-escalate.
www.teslatakedown.com.
https://forward.com/opinion/704086/tesla-boycott-elon-musk-nazi.
As the flip side of the same coin, buying a used Tesla from an individual (not Tesla) makes no difference to Tesla or Elon Musk either. In fact, such private purchases are necessary to enable others to sell their used Teslas. So, buying a used Tesla would help the people who want to follow the advice on teslatakedown.com. Go for it!
www.activevoice.us/p/calling-for-a-freedom-weighted-mutual.
https://manufacturing-today.com/news/teslas-california-factory-now-largest-in-america; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Fremont_Factory.