Prominent Investors Join Movement to Ditch Teslas in Elon Musk Protest

Joanne Wilson, former angel investor and entrepreneur behind the Gotham cannabis concept store, has joined the ranks of Americans who are parting ways with their Tesla vehicles due to objections to Elon Musk's actions and public behavior. She revealed in a conversation with Business Insider that she and her husband, Fred Wilson, himself a venture capitalist, are aligning themselves with a growing movement against Musk, emphasizing how even a solitary voice has the potential to inspire wider change.

Wilson recounted their Tesla ownership journey, beginning in 2014 with the purchase of a Model S after their garage installed electric charging points. They liked their Tesla experience enough to acquire a second vehicle, enabling them to keep one Tesla in New York and another in California. She remarked that owning a Tesla was once seen as a status symbol among wealthy, environmentally conscious urban dwellers on the coasts.

However, the association of the brand with Musk has increasingly caused Wilson discomfort and embarrassment. Despite not facing overt harassment or public criticism like some Cybertruck owners recently have, Wilson still felt compelled to disassociate from the brand. After swapping one of her Teslas for an electric Volvo, she laughed at how the Swedish automaker valued her once-desirable car at a surprisingly low trade-in price of only $2,000.

Reflecting on her motivations, Wilson wrote critically about Musk's recent controversies and confrontational approaches towards governance. She wondered aloud if her decision stemmed from Musk's disregard for established government practices or the polarizing design aesthetics of Tesla's new Cybertruck, which she likened to a hostile, "Mad Max"-style vehicle.

visitors at her Gotham cannabis boutique would be given sledgehammers to demolish the car, and the spectacle potentially shared on social media. Jokingly considering monetizing such an event, Wilson anticipated that any proceeds would easily exceed the compensation offered by Volvo.

Elsewhere, Tesla owners who cannot easily dispose of their expensive investments have taken alternative protest measures. Bumper stickers displaying anti-Musk sentiments such as "Elon Killed My Resale Value" and "I Bought This Before We Knew Elon Was Crazy" have risen sharply in popularity, highlighting growing frustration within the Tesla owner community. According to sticker maker Matthew Hiller, demand for such humorous yet critical products has surged dramatically due to the broader "Tesla Takedown" movement.

This wave of discontent has extended into more concerning territory, with authorities reporting multiple cases of vandalism against Tesla dealerships and vehicles. Police have launched investigations into several of these incidents and, in certain scenarios, have apprehended suspects.