Elon Musk’s Ideology Fuels Local Anger as Adelaide Tesla Project Advances

Elon Musk’s controversial ideology is directly fueling local anger in Adelaide, where a proposed Tesla factory has been approved by the Marion city council despite fierce opposition. The “Trees not Teslas” movement and other concerned residents are leveraging widespread “anti-Elon Musk sentiment” to rally against the project, arguing that supporting Tesla is tantamount to endorsing Musk’s views.
The public outcry against the proposed Tesla showroom and battery recycling and repurposing factory was significant, with approximately 95% of nearly 1,000 submissions to the council expressing opposition. Many of these objections were not solely environmental but directly criticized Musk, sometimes in language so strong it required redaction.
The Marion city council, however, opted to prioritize the potential economic benefits of the development, including 100 new jobs and a multi-million dollar boost to the local economy. Mayor Kris Hanna emphasized that if Marion rejected the project, Tesla would likely establish itself elsewhere, effectively negating the local economic opportunity.
Nonetheless, activists are undeterred. They view the council’s approval as a disregard for public opinion and are now focusing their efforts on the state government, which will have the final say. The ongoing battle in Adelaide highlights the increasing role of ideological objections in local development disputes, particularly when linked to prominent and polarizing figures.