Tesla: The Swasticar

[MsAmerica]

‘0 to 1939 in 3 seconds’: Why Anti-Elon Musk Satire Is Flourishing in Britain
NYT; by Michael D. Shear

On the side of an East London bus stop, one of them shows Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, emerging from a Tesla’s roof with his hand pointing upward in a straight-armed salute. “Goes from 0 to 1939 in 3 seconds,” the ad reads. “Tesla. The Swasticar.”

Another mock ad shows Mr. Musk and President Trump in front of a red Tesla with the words: “Now With White Power Steering.” In North London, a fake movie billboard blares: “The Fast and the Führer,” with a picture of Mr. Musk saluting beside a Tesla with a DOGE license plate, a reference to the budget-slashing federal agency he currently leads on behalf of Mr. Trump...

In Britain, Mr. Musk is known for sharing misinformation about a child rape scandal and calling for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to be jailed. He has called for the release of Tommy Robinson, a far-right, anti-immigrant agitator who is in prison for contempt of court. And he criticized the seven-year sentence of a neo-Nazi who incited and took part in anti-immigrant riots last summer.

The small anti-Musk groups that have popped up around Europe have the same basic goal: Tank Tesla’s stock price and sales as a way of sending a message to Mr. Musk and other super-wealthy people who are thinking of promoting far-right politics around the world...

There are mock car air fresheners called “Musk-B-Gone” that promise to cover “the stench of fascism.”

For the whole piece:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/06/world/europe/anti-elon-musk-tesla-ads.html

https://dnyuz.com/2025/04/06/0-to-1939-in-3-seconds-why-anti-elon-musk-satire-is-flourishing-in-britain/

What ridiculous nonsense

Don't use the word Swastika, it's a Hindu symbol that was misrepresented by the Nazis.

I heard a man randomly shout “Swastika” at a car the other day! It had a driver in and was reversing out of a parking spot. I looked over and it was a Tesla.

It was a bizarre interaction; the shouter looked like a perfectly normal person and was well dressed, but just shouted it angrily at the car as he passed.. I have no idea if the driver cared or not though.

The guy literally gave a Nazi salute on stage in front of the worlds media. He knows exactly what he was doing and did it to make the point that he could understand the current president's regime.

I have no problem with Musk’s financial situation being negatively impacted by his quasi-fascist behaviour. So the negative association with Tesla and therefore fewer sales of them - fine by me. Could give or take the ads above.

I’ll wait for the “But what about volkswagen?!!!1” brigade.

The man is actively promoting far right wing politics.

It's a good thing and healthy for society at large that there is push back against this.

His brand equity has significantly diminished and irrevocably damaged. Chinese EV sales and development are far outpacing Tesla now to the point they won't be able to regain a lead again. The cyber truck is the biggest automotive flop in recent history.

Those who shout 'what about VW?', perhaps if people knew then what they know now there should have been a big pushback. Perhaps society is learning lessons from the past to call out fascism when they see it.

Well said. Thank you.