Kia Norway has poked fun at Tesla in a recent Instagram post amidst the ongoing protest against the US electric car maker. Thousands are protesting against Elon Musk’s Tesla are growing worldwide in response to his involvement with the Donald Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Kia Norway recently shared a post on its official Instagram account showing one of its EV3 electric vehicles with a cheeky sticker that says, “I bought this after Elon went crazy.”
Although the South Korean automaker originally shared the post in February, it has only recently started gaining attention. Interestingly, Kia chose not to add a caption to the post, letting the sticker speak for itself.
Take a look at Kia Norway’s Instagram post
Why global protests against Tesla
Tesla has become a focal point for protesters who are upset with Elon Musk and his involvement in DOGE. Owners across countries are protesting. On Sunday, dozens of protesters gathered at a Tesla showroom in Lisbon to oppose Musk’s support for far-right parties in Europe, as Portugal approaches a possible snap election. Last week, several protesters were arrested outside a Tesla dealership in New York City, with some chanting, “We need clean air, not another billionaire,”
The controversy started when Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, made a divisive gesture at Donald Trump’s inauguration, which some interpreted as a Nazi salute. The incident split the Tesla community, with many now distancing themselves from Musk while still loving their electric vehicles.
Bumper stickers like “Bought it before we knew how awful he is” and “Stuck with Tesla, not stuck on Elon” have become increasingly common. Some owners are vocal about their dilemma, stating, “I didn’t buy a Tesla because I like Elon, and I’m not gonna sell it just because he’s a Nazi.” The backlash highlights a broader trend of Tesla fans trying to separate their admiration for the car from their criticism of its CEO.
