In a video stunt published by the political action group ‘Led By Donkeys,’ a 98-year-old WWII veteran rode a Sherman tank over a Tesla Model 3 vehicle.
“My name is Ken Turner and I’m 98 years old. And I served in the British Army in World War II,” Turner said.
“I’m old enough to have seen fascism the first time around. Now, it’s coming back. Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is using his immense power to support the far-right in Europe, and his money comes from Tesla cars. Well, I’ve got this message for Mr. Musk. We’ve crushed fascism before and we’ll crush it again,” he continued.
Turner then rode over the Tesla with the Sherman tank.
However, the ridiculous stunt highlighted something positive for Tesla.
WATCH:
Per Teslarati:
The heavy tank crushed the Model 3’s glass roof and windows, much to the delight of Led By Donkeys’ commenters on its official YouTube channel. But at the end of it all, the aftermath of the anti-Elon Musk demonstration ended up showcasing something positive for the electric vehicle maker.
As could be seen from the wreckage of the Tesla Model 3 after its Sherman encounter, only the glass roof and windows of the all-electric sedan were crushed. Looking at the wreckage of the Model 3, it seemed like its doors could still be opened, and everything on its lower section looked intact.
Considering that a standard M4 Sherman weighs about 66,800 to 84,000 pounds, the Model 3 actually weathered the tank’s assault really well. Granted, the vehicle’s suspension height before the political action group’s demonstration suggests that the Model 3’s high voltage battery had been removed beforehand. But even if it hadn’t been taken off, it seemed like the vehicle’s battery would have survived the heavy ordeal without much incident.
“What a waste of a Model 3. They could have just given the car to someone in need instead of this stunt. Smh,” Teslarati wrote.
Anti-Elon Musk group crushes Tesla Model 3 with a tank.
“We’ve crushed fascism before and we’ll crush it again.”
What a waste of a Model 3. They could have just given the car to someone in need instead of this stunt. Smh.
pic.twitter.com/8LqPScR4ol
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) May 8, 2025
From Interesting Engineering:
Musk’s recent entry into the political sphere, most notably through his advisory role within Donald Trump’s 2025 campaign and administration, has amplified scrutiny of his influence.
ADVERTISEMENTIn Germany, his rhetoric and social media activity have drawn praise from AfD leadership. At the same time, in the United Kingdom, his platforming of anti-establishment figures has been described as an endorsement of reactionary populism.
This was not the first time such a protest had happened against Musk.
In 2024, the group collaborated with the German art-activist collective Centre for Political Beauty to project an image of Musk on the side of Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory, depicting him in a pose reminiscent of a Nazi salute alongside the phrase “Heil Tesla.”
Though Musk dismissed the act as “performance lunacy,” the incident added fuel to the growing narrative that Tesla’s brand is being politicized, not in ways that benefit its European market share.
Indeed, Tesla’s Q1 2025 European sales have slumped sharply, with analysts citing reputational damage as a contributing factor.
Thoughts?
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up. View the original article here.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!