:TSLAQ

{{See also|List of lawsuits involving Tesla, Inc.|Criticism of Tesla, Inc.}}

According to the Los Angeles Times in 2019, TSLAQ members believe Tesla is a fraudulent company and its stock will eventually crash, while also specifically claiming that Tesla was experiencing a "demand cliff" for its products and has had to regularly distort its sales numbers.{{Cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Russ|date=April 8, 2019|title=Must Reads: The crowd-sourced, social media swarm that is betting Tesla will crash and burn|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-tesla-short-sellers-musk-20190408-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130033613/https://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-tesla-short-sellers-musk-20190408-story.html|archive-date=November 30, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} Their self-reported main goal {{asof|2019|lc=y}} was to "change the mind of Tesla stock bulls and the media." Tesla was the most shorted stock in the U.S. in December 2020, with over US$34.5 billion in shorted share value at its peak.{{Cite web|last=Duggan|first=Wayne|date=December 21, 2020|title=Despite $38.2B In Losses, Tesla Short Sellers Ramp Up Bearish Bets|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/despite-38-2b-losses-tesla-220506552.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111084019/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/despite-38-2b-losses-tesla-220506552.html|archive-date=January 11, 2021|access-date=|website=Yahoo Finance}} Business Insider described TSLAQ member activity in 2019 as consisting of "exchang[ing] research, news articles, and sometimes outlandish conspiracy theories about the company" and that members were "betting on the company's death and have found much success in irritating the billionaire executive."{{Cite web|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-stock-price-twitter-musk-fans-bears-2019-4-1028119078|title=Inside Tesla Twitter|last=Ungarino|first=Rebecca|date=April 17, 2019|website=Market Insider|access-date=December 9, 2019|archive-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205203634/https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-stock-price-twitter-musk-fans-bears-2019-4-1028119078|url-status=live}}

Tesla under Musk's leadership has been involved in a number of lawsuits and controversies,{{Cite web|url=https://www.plainsite.org/realitycheck/tesla.html|title=Plainsite: Tesla: Reality Check|last=Greenspan|first=Aaron|date=January 7, 2020|website=Plainsite|access-date=April 21, 2020|archive-date=April 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422063005/https://www.plainsite.org/realitycheck/tesla.html|url-status=live}} including investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice.{{Cite news|last1=Goldstein|first1=Matthew|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/18/business/tesla-elon-musk-justice-department.html|title=Justice Department Is Examining Tesla After Musk Comment|date=September 18, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 18, 2020|last2=Kelly|first2=Kate|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=Flitter|first3=Emily|archive-date=January 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104061004/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/18/business/tesla-elon-musk-justice-department.html|url-status=live}} News of such investigations and subsequent litigation, the alleged fraud and insider-dealing in connection with Tesla's acquisition of SolarCity in 2016 (Tesla won the SolarCity fraud case in 2022{{cite web |last=Hals |first=Tom |date=April 27, 2022 |title=Judge rules for Elon Musk in $13 bln lawsuit over Tesla-SolarCity deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/judge-rules-elon-musk-tesla-investor-lawsuit-over-solarcity-deal-2022-04-27/ |access-date=2 June 2023 |website=reuters.com}}), are major organizing points for TSLAQ members.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/how-elon-musk-gambled-tesla-to-save-solarcity|title="He's Full of Shit": How Elon Musk Gambled Tesla to Save SolarCity|last=McLean|first=Bethany|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en|access-date=April 18, 2020|archive-date=May 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507071403/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/how-elon-musk-gambled-tesla-to-save-solarcity|url-status=live}} Notably, Elon Musk revealed a "solar roof" shingle in October 2016 that later was disclosed to be fake, as originally speculated by {{anchor|TESLAcharts}}TESLAcharts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-23/solarcity-tesla-merger-shareholder-lawsuit|title=Elon Musk knew SolarCity was going broke before merger with Tesla, lawsuit alleges|date=September 24, 2019|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=April 18, 2020|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730152927/https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-23/solarcity-tesla-merger-shareholder-lawsuit|url-status=live}} The group has also raised questions about accounting irregularities related to warranty reserves, accounts receivables, and regulatory credits.{{Cite news|title=Tesla is nuts, when's the crash?|url=https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2020/02/04/1580828388000/Tesla-is-nuts--when-s-the-crash-/|access-date=August 18, 2020|newspaper=Financial Times|date=February 4, 2020 |archive-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811191154/https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2020/02/04/1580828388000/Tesla-is-nuts--when-s-the-crash-/|url-status=live}}

TSLAQ has highlighted a California judge's ruling in 2019 that Tesla had violated labor laws by unfairly disciplining employees who engaged in pro-union activity.{{Cite web|date=December 17, 2019|title=Who is Elon Musk?|url=https://tslaq.org/who-is-elon-musk/|access-date=September 12, 2020|website=tslaQ.org - Crowdsourced Tesla Research|language=en-US|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020755/https://tslaq.org/who-is-elon-musk/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Butler|first=Zach|date=September 30, 2019|title=It's Not Just Quarterly Losses — This Is What Will Kill Tesla|url=https://www.tflcar.com/2019/09/tesla-quality-service-issues-report/|access-date=September 17, 2020|website=The Fast Lane Car|language=en-US|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020085722/https://tflcar.com/2019/09/tesla-quality-service-issues-report/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Henney|first=Megan|date=September 28, 2019|title=Tesla and Elon Musk violated labor laws, judge rules|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/tesla-elon-musk-violated-labor-laws|access-date=September 17, 2020|website=FOXBusiness|language=en-US|archive-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218220629/https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/tesla-elon-musk-violated-labor-laws|url-status=live}} According to TSLAQ member {{anchor|Paul91701736}}Paul91701736, Tesla has frequently failed to achieve overly optimistic production projections. Following Musk's statement that "Tesla does not need to ever raise another funding round" in 2012,{{Cite web|title=Tesla Motors Won't Need More Money, Says CEO Musk|url=https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1073019_tesla-motors-wont-need-more-money-says-ceo-musk|access-date=June 14, 2020|website=Green Car Reports|date=February 16, 2012 |language=en|archive-date=April 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416174502/https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1073019_tesla-motors-wont-need-more-money-says-ceo-musk|url-status=live}} TSLAQ and others argue Tesla has had a total negative cash flow of over $8 billion and subsequently raised over $18 billion in additional debt and equity via subsidies and other means.{{Cite web|date=March 17, 2020|title=The Business of Self-Driving Cars: Interview with Russ Mitchell|url=https://www.brulteco.com/self-driving-car-business/|access-date=September 13, 2020|website=Brulte & Company|at=13min 20s|language=en-US|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927134515/https://www.brulteco.com/self-driving-car-business/|url-status=live |last1=Brulte |first1=Grayson }} Musk also planned to build a fully automated factory for mass production of the Tesla Model 3,{{Cite web|last=Muoio|first=Danielle|title=Elon Musk: Tesla's factory will be an 'alien dreadnought' by 2018|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-factory-alien-dreadnought-2016-10|access-date=June 14, 2020|website=Business Insider|archive-date=March 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329212054/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-factory-alien-dreadnought-2016-10|url-status=live}} describing the factory as an "unstoppable alien dreadnought ... [the] machine that builds the machine."{{Cite web|last=Muoio|first=Danielle|title=Elon Musk: Tesla's factory will be an 'alien dreadnought' by 2018|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-factory-alien-dreadnought-2016-10|access-date=July 12, 2020|website=Business Insider|archive-date=March 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329212054/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-factory-alien-dreadnought-2016-10|url-status=live}} However, footage produced by a TSLAQ member of activity at the Fremont factory revealed that cars were largely being built by hand.{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2020 |title=The Tesla Skeptics Who Bet Against Elon Musk |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-01-22/the-tesla-tslaq-skeptics-who-bet-against-elon-musk |url-status=live |access-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412174009/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-01-22/the-tesla-tslaq-skeptics-who-bet-against-elon-musk |archive-date=April 12, 2020}}

In April 2019, Tesla filed a lawsuit and a request for a restraining order against TSLAQ member Randeep Hothi,{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Harri |date=2023-05-01 |title=Elon Musk reportedly settles defamation suit after saying he'd never 'surrender an unjust case' |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/01/elon-musk-defamation-suit-tesla-hothi-tslaq/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} also known as skabooshka. The allegations were:

1. In February 2019, Mr. Hothi was found sitting in his car in the Tesla Fremont Factory parking lot. Security ordered him to leave, at which point Tesla alleged he exited at high speed and nearly struck an employee.{{Cite web |last=O'Kane |first=Sean |date=2019-07-22 |title=Tesla drops lawsuit against critic after judge asks for evidence |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/22/20699573/tesla-lawsuit-skabooshka-randeep-hothi-restraining-order |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=August 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818201643/https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/22/20699573/tesla-lawsuit-skabooshka-randeep-hothi-restraining-order |url-status=live }}
2. In April 2019, Mr. Hothi spotted a Tesla car on the highway fitted with numerous camera systems and personnel in the car. He proceeded to film the vehicle, believing it to be demonstrating and filming Tesla's Autopilot capabilities. Tesla alleged that he drove erratically and dangerously.{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Linette |date=July 22, 2019 |title=Tesla Drops Suit Against Shortseller |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-drops-suit-against-shortseller-hothi-refuses-discovery-2019-7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206193222/https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-drops-suit-against-shortseller-hothi-refuses-discovery-2019-7 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |access-date=February 2, 2020 |website=Business Insider}}{{Cite web |date=2019-05-02 |title=Tesla Skeptic Says Allegation He Menaced Workers Isn't True |url=https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2019/05/02/290708.htm |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Claims Journal |language=en-US |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517142925/https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2019/05/02/290708.htm |url-status=live }}

In response to the allegations, TSLAQ members led by Lawrence Fossi ran a GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $100,000 for Hothi's defense fund. Tesla refused to produce footage from within the test car on the grounds it "risked the safety and privacy of the employees involved in the case", and dropped the lawsuit and the request for a temporary restraining order against Hothi.{{Cite web |last=O'Kane |first=Sean |date=July 22, 2019 |title=Tesla drops lawsuit against critic after judge asks for evidence |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/22/20699573/tesla-lawsuit-skabooshka-randeep-hothi-restraining-order |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818201643/https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/22/20699573/tesla-lawsuit-skabooshka-randeep-hothi-restraining-order |archive-date=August 18, 2019 |access-date=November 29, 2019 |website=The Verge |language=en}} After reviewing the surveillance camera footage of the Tesla parking lot from the February incident, Fremont police declined to press charges.{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Russ |date=2019-07-20 |title=Judge told Tesla to release evidence in short seller trial. Instead, Tesla dropped the case |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-07-20/judge-told-tesla-to-release-evidence-in-short-seller-trial-instead-tesla-dropped-the-case |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602223807/https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-07-20/judge-told-tesla-to-release-evidence-in-short-seller-trial-instead-tesla-dropped-the-case |url-status=live }}

In August 2020, Hothi sued Elon Musk for defamation over Musk's accusations in an email exchange with PlainSite's owner Aaron Greenspan that Hothi had almost killed Tesla employees.{{Cite web |last=Bruno |first=Bianca |date=August 7, 2020 |title=Tesla Twitter Critic Sues Elon Musk for Defamation |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/tesla-twitter-critic-sues-elon-musk-for-defamation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810040027/https://www.courthousenews.com/tesla-twitter-critic-sues-elon-musk-for-defamation/ |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |access-date=August 9, 2020 |language=en-US}} The presiding judge rejected Musk's motion to strike the lawsuit in January 2021, allowing the trial to move forward.{{Cite news |date=January 28, 2021 |title=Musk Fails to Get Tesla Critic's Defamation Lawsuit Thrown Out |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-28/musk-fails-to-get-tesla-critic-s-defamation-lawsuit-thrown-out |url-status=live |access-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128173539/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-28/musk-fails-to-get-tesla-critic-s-defamation-lawsuit-thrown-out |archive-date=January 28, 2021}} In January 2022, Musk's appeal to strike the lawsuit under anti-SLAPP laws was denied.{{Cite web |title=Elon Musk Can't Shake Tesla Critic's Defamation Fight |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1450728/elon-musk-can-t-shake-tesla-critic-s-defamation-fight |access-date=January 4, 2022 |website=Law360 |language=en |archive-date=January 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104230105/https://www.law360.com/articles/1450728/elon-musk-can-t-shake-tesla-critic-s-defamation-fight |url-status=live }} In April 2023, the parties settled, with Hothi receiving $10,000.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-01 |title=Musk said he'd never settle an unjust legal case against him. He just settled this one |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-05-01/musk-settles-defamation-suit-randeep-hothi-tesla |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

• Criticism of Tesla, Inc.
• Elon Musk's Crash Course
• List of lawsuits involving Tesla
• Swasticar
• Tesla Takedown
• Everyone Hates Elon

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite magazine|last=Katwala|date=June 20, 2019|title=Inside the obsessive Twitter turf war over Elon Musk's Tesla tweets|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/elon-musk-twitter-fans|magazine=Wired|language=en-US|first=Amit}}
• {{Cite book|last=Niedermeyer |first=Edward |date=August 20, 2019 |title=Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors |location=Dallas, TX. |isbn=978-1-948836-32-6 |oclc=1089841254}}

• [https://twitter.com/hashtag/$TSLAQ $TSLAQ timeline] on X (formerly Twitter)
• [https://www.tesladeaths.com/ Tesla Deaths]
• [https://www.tesla-fire.com/ Tesla Fire]
• [https://www.reddit.com/r/EnoughMuskSpam/ r/EnoughMuskSpam] on Reddit

Category:Social movements

Category:Internet-based activism

Category:Criticisms of companies

Category:Tesla, Inc.

Category:Skeptic organizations

Category:Elon Musk