Activists Target Elon Musk And His Extremist Views With Brutal Parody Tesla Ads In London

Activists in London put up fake Tesla "Swasticar" ads at bus stops to call out billionaire Elon Musk's support of Germany's far-right political party.

Musk was criticized for his ties to antisemitic and white supremacist groups last month after he spoke with Alice Weidel, the chancellor candidate for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency has placed AfD under surveillance, citing concerns over suspected right-wing extremism—a claim the party denies. The AfD, known for its hardline positions against immigration and Islam, has faced accusations of members using Nazi slogans in speeches and minimizing the significance of the Holocaust.

Musk's alignment with AfD has received even more attention in light of the Nazi salute Musk gave to an audience during last month's inauguration festivities.

While thanking President Donald Trump's supporters, Musk placed his right hand on his chest before extending it outward with his palm facing down and fingers pressed together—a gesture historically known as the “Roman salute.”

This gesture, co-opted by fascist movements in the early 20th century, is most infamously associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany. It remains a symbol tied to the far-right, particularly among fascist groups in Italy.

In light of these facts, the London-based activist group @EveryoneHatesElon posted ads at bus stops that feature Musk giving the salute and say Tesla’s "Swasticar" “goes “from 0 to 1939 in 3 seconds.”

You can see it below.

@novaramedia/TikTok

You can see footage of the ads in London below.

People loved it.

Yesterday, Alice Weidel, the aforementioned chancellor candidate for AfD, told journalists she had slept through a call from Musk. The morning after her party secured 20.8 percent of the vote, she checked her phone and found a missed call from the United States, which she later discovered was from Musk. According to her, he “congratulated me personally.”

The AfD secured second place in Germany’s national election, nearly twice its 2021 share and a historic high for any far-right party since World War II.

However, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democrats, who came in first and is expected to become the next chancellor, has ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD. As a result, Weidel and her party will remain excluded from governing alliances.