Elon Musk in bitter new battle with McDonald’s

Elon Musk has turned burger king as he takes the fight to fast food giant McDonald’s in his latest controversial venture.

Tesla has taken on a new rival – McDonald’s – with its Tesla Diner and Supercharger hub.

Originally promised by Musk in 2023, the diner which opened in late July in Los Angeles, has managed to sell as many hamburgers in its first full quarter as the average McDonald’s does across the United States.

Tesla’s diner sold as many hamburgers in Q3 as the average McDonald’s does in the U.S., despite the diner having only opened on July 21st and that Tesla's burger costs ~2x as much (higher quality ingredients).

Tesla sold an average of 704 burgers per day. https://t.co/43bLQzg3AKpic.twitter.com/zYCYrY8DK9

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) October 1, 2025

According to a Tesla enthusiast, Sawyer Meritt, the diner sold approximately 50,000 burgers between July and September, pulling in an estimated US$675,000 in revenue.

But Musk burgers aren’t like your typical McDonald’s cheeseburgers.

Musk uses only higher-quality ingredients, with the diner promising responsibly sourced produce from within a “full charge” radius of the site.

MORE:‘Signal to world’: China’s big plans for Aus

The scene at the Tesla Diner in LA.

Tesla software integration at its finest.

As you are navigating to the Tesla Diner, a notification appears in your UI asking you if you want to order your food ahead of time so it’s ready on arrival.

Everything about the Diner was so thoughtfully designed. Well done. https://t.co/rT23gW47uzpic.twitter.com/9OAU3JTq9b

— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) July 22, 2025

The diner even offers food served in boxes shaped like Cybertrucks.

Each Tesla burger costs about double the price of a typical McDonald’s cheeseburger.

Built on Santa Monica Boulevard, the diner doubles as a massive V4 Supercharger station with about 80 stalls and even a drive-in movie theatre.

The Golden Arches are in for a fight. Picture: AP

Because Elon Musk is now a Burger King. Picture: AP

Musk has hinted that Tesla might build more if the diner “turns out well”, but there’s no word yet on whether the concept might reach international markets like Australia.

Recently, Tesla launched “FSD Supervised” in Australia, which has been well received by local owners who have been waiting years for the promise of autonomy.

Originally published as Elon Musk in bitter new battle with McDonald’s