Fact Check: Has Elon Musk launched Tesla's 'The Swasticar'?

LONDON, ENGLAND: Did Tesla really launch something called "The Swasticar"? That’s the burning question on a lot of people's minds after a bizarre billboard popped up in East London.

Featuring none other than tech billionaire Elon Musk at the wheel of a Tesla, the ad appeared to be a brazen, politically charged stunt. The image was reportedly taken from Trump’s inauguration rally, showing Musk making what some allege to be a Nazi salute. To top it off, the tagline beneath the image read: "Goes from 0 to 1939 in 3 seconds."

Truth behind controversial 'Swasticar' billboard

The billboard, as shocking as it was, quickly went viral on social media. However, it is worth noting that none of it is real. Tesla had nothing to do with the campaign. The controversial poster is the work of a UK-based activist group called "Everyone Hates Elon".

The group proudly took credit for the stunt, posting about it on their Instagram account, where their bio reads: "Pi**ing off Elon Musk one small action at a time." According to their statement, the stunt was meant to showcase Musk's alleged ties to the far-right in Germany.

They claimed that Musk had personally congratulated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party after it secured 20.8% of the vote in the German elections. The group alleges that Musk’s vocal support of AfD (including his statement that "Only the AfD can save Germany") helped boost the party's success. Their message is that no one should be buying his cars.

How the billboard spread

The Everyone Hates Elon group brazenly shared footage of activists putting up the poster while also offering a downloadable PDF version so others could print and display it themselves.

What's more? The group has also launched a fundraiser called "People vs Elon" on GoFundMe, which has raked in more than £12,000 (~$15,000) of its £14,000 (~$17,600) goal as of February 28.

The fundraiser’s description makes no secret of their disdain for Musk: "We can’t let the richest man in the world poison our politics. While nurses use food banks, his wealth grew by $200 billion last year. Everyone Hates Elon is doing actions holding Elon to account."

What’s the money being used for?

According to the GoFundMe page, every penny will be used for future campaigns against Elon Musk, including plans to plaster "Don't buy a Swasticar" posters all over London. And this isn't the first time the group has made headlines.

In a previous stunt, they brought a cardboard cutout of Musk—depicted in the same controversial salute—to a Tesla dealership. Outraged customers expressed their anger at the display. But the activists aren't stopping there. They have reportedly set a new goal of £20,000 (~$30,000) to fund even bigger protests.

Meanwhile, Tesla itself is facing a major slump in Europe. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, Tesla sales have plummeted by 45%, with only 9,945 cars sold in January 2025 compared to 18,161 vehicles in January 2024.

Whether this is a direct result of the controversy or broader market factors remains to be seen.