Boycotts, arson and the Tesla slump

In early 2025, protesters gathered at Tesla showrooms across the U.S. and Europe, most peacefully, to oppose Musk’s role in DOGE. [4]

Some attacks went further: vehicles, charging stations and a showroom were set on fire. On 18 March 2025 Attorney General Pam Bondi called the attacks “domestic terrorism,” and two days later she announced charges against three people. [5] The Justice Department separately charged a Nevada man over an arson and shooting at a Las Vegas service center. [1][2][3]

A criminal charge is an accusation; each defendant is presumed innocent until convicted.

Tesla delivered about 1.81 million vehicles in 2023. In 2025 it delivered about 1.64 million, its second annual decline, while BYD sold about 2.26 million battery-electric cars and passed it as the world’s biggest EV maker. [1][2][3]

The first-quarter 2025 drop came as protests and boycott calls spread over Musk’s DOGE role. Tesla also faced cheaper rivals, led by BYD, and a lineup with few new models. [2][3][4]