Protests, lawsuits – Elon Musk’s new Tesla Diner beset by controversy
Elon Musk’s foray into fast food has been beset by controversy in its first week, with protests, complaints and even a lawsuit.
Elon Musk opened his Tesla Diner in West Hollywood last week, complete with retro-futuristic design, electric vehicle-charging stations and food served in Cybertruck-themed packaging.
And while Tesla fans have flocked to the venue, so have protesters expressing their discontent with Musk’s involvement in reducing US government spending through the Department of Government Efficiency.
The 24/7 diner, complete with more than 80 Tesla Superchargers, has drawn curious diners and Tesla owners. But nearby residents have complained of continuing traffic issues.
Residents have complained of a constant stream of Teslas lining the street, honking through the night and clogging the intersections.
“We were really excited for the Supercharger station. We thought it would bring good business to the area, but it has caused insane gridlock from 1pm to 1am,” ABC LA quoted one resident as saying.
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And as some customers report waiting in lengthy queues only to be told that many items had sold out, dozens of protesters gathered outside over the weekend for “Tesla Takedown” demonstrations.
Brandishing inflatable Elon Musks performing Nazi salutes, demonstrators from the activist group Resist the Coup gathered for two consecutive nights to protest the tech mogul’s political ties with the Trump administration.
“You don’t get to destroy our country, walk away, pretend to be the nice guy and pretend that you’re battling Donald Trump, when we all know that he’s secretly still in our government doing what he’s doing,” organiser Toby Bronson told ABC LA.
Safety concerns have also been an issue after one of the diner’s rooftop patio coverings came loose and struck a 21-year-old woman in the head.
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The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene, though she declined transport. TMZ reports that her family plans to file a lawsuit against Tesla over the incident.
As well as charging stations and burgers, the two-storey diner features movies showing on two 20-metre LED “megascreens”.
Diners can also take home merchandise and Tesla accessories including Supercharged Gummies, clothing and even a Tesla Bot Action Figure.
Speaking at Tesla’s earnings call last week, Musk described the diner as “a shiny beacon of hope” amid what he called a bleak urban landscape.
Musk has said that if the Diner is successful, he will launch more across major cities globally.
Musk described the retro futuristic diner as a ‘beacon of hope’. Photo: Tesla
But while it’s a hit with Tesla fans, Tesla sales are still trending down.
The EV company has reported a decline in auto revenue and overall sales in its recent earnings report. Tesla shares have dropped by as much as 4 per cent in the past week.
