A wave of protests against Elon Musk’s Tesla have spread to Britain amid a growing backlash over the billionaire’s support for Donald Trump. Two protests at dealerships in London and Manchester are planned this weekend, as part of a series of “Tesla Takedown” demonstrations that have become frequent sights in the US.

Tesla backlash continues as the stock nosedives and Musk pushes conspiracy theories about protests and arsons at dealerships.

This suggests that a reaction from consumers who dislike Mr Musk’s antics are only one reason for falling sales. An updated Model Y, Tesla’s best-selling vehicle, has just gone on sale. In preparation Tesla ran down inventory of the old model, crimping supply. Customers doubtless held off purchases until the new car was available.