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Love them or hate them, most would agree Tesla is king in the world of electric cars.
While they were the newest kids on the automotive block not too long ago, the Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV – the best-selling EV model by volume in 2025 – have become a fixture on local roads.
Though the negative sentiment towards electric cars is dwindling – with numerous anti-EV acts such as ‘ice-ing’ banned in most Australian states and territories – Tesla owners are still targeted occasionally by random people who may feel animosity toward the brand.
In the latest anti-Tesla campaign, some Tesla owners have reportedly been receiving what appears to be a parking ticket, only to be met with some rude remarks about their vehicles.
Taking to the Cars Australia Reddit thread, one user shared the image of the fake parking ticket, which was allegedly spotted on a Tesla model parked at the John Fawkner Private Hospital in Melbourne’s north.
The fake 'parking' ticket reads, “FUN FACT: Your Tesla is cringe and everyone is laughing at you”.
The unknown creator of the fake parking ticket took shots at not only the car’s components but also at Elon Musk, Tesla’s outspoken CEO.
“Your ugly, overpriced, glued-together car is representative of [an] empire built on facism [sic], blood-diamonds and nepotism! Your money supports a nazi trillionaire ...” it said.
Most users on the thread condemned the notice, with one commenter stating the messages wouldn’t deter them from buying into the brand.
“Honestly, if I had a lazy $90K burning a hole; Model 3 Performance with a satin wrap and some import rims would be a serious option. They can shake their fist and cry into my rear-view mirrors,” they said.
Another Reddit user remarked, “Imagine spending this much time being concerned over what someone spends their money on. How weird”.
Despite Musk’s controversial antics, a different commenter did acknowledge Tesla’s importance in the industry.
“Not wrong, but also Tesla has done a lot to accelerate the take-up of electric vehicles. Decades ahead of where we’d be otherwise,” they said.
While most Reddit users slammed the creator of the parking ticket for their behaviour, some commenters agreed with their views.
A Reddit user said, “I brought back in 2022 a Model 3… with FSD (worst financial decision ever), I 100 per cent endorse these notices … The brand is exactly what this note describes, and I could never purchase from the brand again".
“The author isn’t wrong," a different commenter added.
It's worth noting fake parking tickets used for marketing purposes have risen in popularity – largely due to their shock value – in recent years.
Numerous Australian businesses ranging from local burger restaurants to a photography studio have used fake parking tickets to generate public buzz.
But as reported by Drive in February 2025, issuing a fake parking ticket is actually illegal in some states such as Victoria – where individuals can be hit with a $1923 fine, while corporations can face a $9615 fine – and New South Wales.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
