Attacks on Tesla escalate - fires, bullets and Molotov cocktails hit showrooms
Teslas set on fire at Las Vegas service center (Photo: Getty Images)
A wave of violent attacks targeting Tesla dealerships, charging stations and vehicles has intensified in the United States and Europe, coinciding with Elon Musk's growing influence in the Trump administration, reports AP News.
Since Trump appointed Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, Tesla-related incidents have surged. Dealerships, Cybertrucks, and even privately owned vehicles have been vandalized across the US and Europe. Authorities report Molotov cocktails, gunfire, and graffiti labeling Teslas as "Nazi cars."
"Tesla is an easy target," says sociologist Randy Blazak, an expert on political violence. "They’re in our streets, our neighborhoods - visible symbols of Musk’s influence."
In Colorado, a woman is facing charges for attacking Tesla dealerships, while a South Carolina man was arrested for setting fire to charging stations. The FBI is investigating a series of incidents, including a shooting at a Tesla showroom in Oregon and multiple Cybertrucks torched in Seattle.
Molotov cocktails hit Tesla dealerships (Photo: Getty Images)
Federal agents are also probing whether some attacks are coordinated. "At least some of it is organized and paid for," Musk claimed on Sen. Ted Cruz’s podcast.
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The burnt-out remains of a Tesla electric car in the Steglitz district in Berlin, Germany (Photo: Getty Images)
Elon Musk responded to the escalating attacks on Tesla, calling them acts of "hatred and violence from the left." He suggested the incidents were politically motivated, stating, "Some of this is clearly organized and paid for. It’s like some kind of mental illness."
Tesla under fire amid Musk’s political shift
Once celebrated by progressives, Tesla’s image has shifted as Musk aligned himself with the right. His $250 million donation to Trump’s campaign and his takeover of social media platform X have fueled protests. Demonstrations erupted earlier this month across the US and Europe, with activists targeting Tesla showrooms over Musk’s influence on Trump’s policies.
Protests against Elon Musk at Tesla showrooms (Photo: Getty Images)
The White House has vowed a crackdown. US Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled the attacks "domestic terrorism" and vowed to prosecute both perpetrators and those behind the coordination. Bondi warned, "If you touch a Tesla, we’re coming after you."
The activist group Indivisible, known for opposing Musk’s political influence, launched the "Tesla Take Down" campaign, urging protests against his ties to Trump and his role in the administration.
Trump labeled the vandalism "domestic terror" and promised severe consequences. Additionally, the US president recently tried to boost Musk’s image - Donald Trump bought a Tesla himself.
The backlash follows weeks of turmoil for Musk. Tesla stock plummeted after Trump’s election gains faded, compounding losses from a major X outage and a SpaceX explosion.
At the same time, Musk’s net worth dipped below $400 billion for the first time this year due to a decline in Tesla shares.
Despite the controversy, Tesla owners remain divided. "I love my car," says Theresa Ramsdell, president of a Tesla owners’ club. "I won’t let politics dictate what I drive."
