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    William Dalrymple (historian)

    For the peaceful protests in 2025 against Tesla, see Tesla Takedown.
    "Burn More Teslas" graffiti in Berlin, Germany, in January 2025
    This article is part of
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    Beginning in early 2025, there has been an increased number of incidents of vandalism targeting Tesla property, including vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations. The incidents have been part of a larger wave of protests against Elon Musk, Tesla's owner and a key figure of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The majority of incidents have occurred in the United States, and have also been reported in Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Attorney General Pam Bondi have labeled the vandalism as domestic terrorism and President Donald Trump suggested the perpetrators be sent to prison in El Salvador. Although Musk has suggested that the vandalism is funded and coordinated, the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said they could not find any evidence that attacks have been coordinated.

    Incidents

    United States

    See also: Protests against Elon Musk

    Midwest

    A woman was arrested for spray-painting a Tesla dealership in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.[1] A Tesla owner in Wichita, Kansas, reported a man keying her vehicle outside a restaurant.[2] Several Cybertrucks were set on fire at a dealership in Kansas City, Missouri.[3] In Bloomington, Minnesota, a woman was filmed keying a Tesla in a parking lot. Authorities decided not to move forward with criminal charges after the woman turned herself in and agreed to pay for damages.[4] A Tesla was also keyed in West Fargo, North Dakota, and a suspect was arrested.[5]

    In west Michigan, a Cybertruck owner reported someone spray-painted "FUCK OFF NAZI" on the side of his vehicle in early March.[6] In Kentwood, five Cybertrucks were vandalized on March 10, with one having the words "Nazis always lose" spray-painted on the side.[7]

    Northeast

    Several Tesla chargers were set on fire outside a shopping center in Littleton, Massachusetts, on March 3.[8] In a Dedham dealership, two Cybertrucks were spray-painted, and a Model S had all of its tires punctured. The same dealership had been targeted by vandalism on February 26.[9] In Brookline, a man was arrested for allegedly placing Elon Musk-related stickers on Teslas.[10]

    A Tesla owner in Syracuse, New York, reported an unidentified person wrote "This car supports Nazis" on his car while he was in a theater.[11] On March 6, two men in New York City spray-painted swastikas on a Cybertruck in Lower Manhattan. The New York City Police Department said they were investigating the vandalism as a hate crime.[12]

    In Pennsylvania on March 23, a Tesla Cybertruck was vandalized while parked outside a restaurant in Newtown Township, Bucks County by an apparent juvenile who dragged something along the side of it, leaving a mark.[13]

    South

    A Tesla dealership in Owings Mills, Maryland, was spray-painted on March 2, the day after a protest was held outside the same dealership.[14] In Washington, D.C., police said they were looking for a man and woman who had graffitied at least two Teslas with unspecified "political hate speech".[15] The word "NAZI" was found etched on the side of a Tesla in Garner, North Carolina.[16] Police in Tulsa, Oklahoma reported that a masked individual spray-painted the word "NAZI" on the side of a Cybertruck.[17]

    In North Charleston, South Carolina, federal authorities charged a man with arson after he allegedly set Tesla chargers on fire with Molotov cocktails. The suspect is also accused of spray-painting "Fuck Trump, long live Ukraine" next to the chargers.[18] On March 24, Austin Police Department responded to calls of suspicious devices found in the local Tesla showroom, the Austin Bomb Squad determined the devices to be incendiary devices .[19] [20] On March 25, a man in Texarkana, Texas was arrested and charged with a felony for vandalizing several Teslas. Video from one of the cars appeared to show the suspect driving a mini four-wheeler into the side of a Tesla parked outside a restaurant.[21]

    On March 29, a woman in Aventura, Florida was arrested and charged with felony criminal mischief for sticking a wad of gum to the door handle of a Tesla, an event which the vehicle's owner characterized as a result of "unfortunately, a divide in our country where certain views that are not accepted by a subset".[22]

    West

    On March 22, a man in Berkeley, California, was arrested for firing a stun gun at protesters. No injuries were reported. The suspect, who demonstrators said had attempted to disrupt several earlier protests, was grabbed by protesters before officers arrested him.[23] On April 6, a man slashed the tire of a Tesla parked outside a grocery store in Clovis.[24]

    In San Jose, California, police arrested a man who was seen on video keying a Tesla.[25] A dealership and several vehicles in Encinitas were spray-painted with swastikas.[26] In Vista, a person reportedly broke the side-view mirror of a Tesla parked in a driveway.[27] In Berkeley, a person was filmed spray-painting a Tesla in a Whole Foods Market parking lot.[28] On March 29, a Cybertruck parked outside a home in Novato was vandalized, with a suspect slitting the tires and throwing a rock at the windshield.[29]

    One person was arrested after a molotov cocktail was thrown at a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado, on March 7. A second person had been charged with vandalizing the same dealership earlier in the month, though a police said the incidents appeared to be unrelated.[30] Police in Colorado Springs said they had responded to two reports of Tesla vehicles being vandalized in 2025.[31]

    Sometime on the night of April 2 and 3, 16 Cybertrucks and a dealership were spray-painted in Meridian, Idaho.[32]

    In Nevada, multiple Teslas were set on fire at a dealership in Enterprise. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said they were investigating.[33] A 36-year-old Las Vegas resident was arrested and charged with federal offenses.[34]

    In Salem, Oregon, a Tesla vehicle was set on fire in a dealership parking lot in January.[35] The following month, several gunshots were fired at the windows of the same dealership.[36] A suspect was arrested and faces federal charges.[37] A dealership in Tigard was also damaged by gunfire in March. A security guard was present, but they were not injured.[38] In Portland, a person spray-painted the word "Nazi" on a Tesla.[39] In Eugene, the words "Divest" and "Depose" were spray-painted on two Tesla vehicles.[40] In Washington, four Cybertrucks were damaged by a fire in Seattle.[41] in Portland, Oregon, a man was arrested for trying to blind Tesla employees with a laser pointer.[42]

    On March 22, four Tesla chargers in Rock Springs, Wyoming, were spray-painted with Swastikas.[43]

    Canada

    In Vancouver, police arrested a man suspected of vandalizing a Tesla dealership multiple times between January 1 and March 21, spray-painting obscenities on the building.[44] In Montreal, police arrested two members of an activist group who sprayed paint on a dealership.[45]

    On March 17, a Tesla Model S was set on fire in the parking lot of Masonville Place in London, Ontario. No injuries were reported.[46] March 18, a Tesla car was burned in southeast Calgary. March 19th, a Tesla cybertruck was burned in Calgary.[47] On March 20, 80 Teslas were damaged at a dealership in Hamilton, Ontario, with cars having deep scratches and tires punctured.[48]

    February 13 and March 31 Tesla vehicles were vandalized in Victoria, Canada. In Vancouver, there have been 28 acts of vandalism against Teslas, charging stations or car dealerships since January (as of April 1).[49] On April 3 a pregnant woman was injured after a rock was thrown at her Tesla.[50]

    France

    Around a dozen Teslas were set on fire outside a dealership in Toulouse on February 23. Eight cars were destroyed and another four were damaged.[51]

    Several Tesla Superchargers were set on fire in Saint-Chamond. The police said two chargers were completely destroyed, while the others were damaged.[52]

    A dozen burnings of Teslas have happened from September, 2024 to April, 2025 in Deux-Sévres.[53]

    Globally

    Seven Teslas were destroyed after catching on fire outside a dealership in Ottersberg, Germany around 3:30 a.m. on March 29, a worldwide day of action announced by the Tesla Takedown movement.[54] Seventeen Tesla vehicles were damaged in a fire at a store in Rome.[52]

    In New Zealand, several Tesla cars were spray painted in Auckland.[55][56] Members of Just Stop Oil poured an orange liquid latex over a Tesla robot at a store in London.[57]

    Response

    Government officials

    In a Truth Social post, President Trump suggested people who vandalized Teslas should be sent to prisons in El Salvador,[58] the same country where the United States had recently sent hundreds of migrants.[59] Trump also claimed, without evidence, that "people that are very highly political on the left" were paying the vandals.[60]

    Attorney General Pam Bondi described Tesla vandalism as "nothing short of domestic terrorism" and vowed to "impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes."[61]

    Elon Musk said those vandalizing cars should "stop being psycho" and called Tesla a "peaceful company".[62] He said he believed there was a "mental illness thing going on," and suggested that the perpetrators were being led by a "larger force" who were funding and coordinating the violence.[63] He also referred to the acts as "trans violence" and claimed that "the probability of a trans person being violent appears to be vastly higher".[64]

    Law enforcement and domestic terrorism experts have found no evidence that the attacks are coordinated.[60]

    On March 24, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched an investigation task force. The director of the FBI, Kash Patel, has called the attacks "domestic terrorism".[65] Bruce Hoffman, senior fellow for counterterrorism and homeland security at the Council on Foreign Relations agreed with the classification of terrorism by saying "It's absolutely domestic terrorism. Vandalism is a crime that if it's committed with a political motive, can certainly be defined as terrorism." [66]

    Insurance companies

    After increasing losses due to an increase in vandalism, insurance companies have risen their rates to insure Tesla vehicles. Compared to the average rise in cost of 10% to insure US vehicles, the Model Y has risen 29% and the Model 3 has rose 24% from 2024 to 2025. The average cost to insure Model Y and 3 rose 300$ and 101$ respectively from January to March, 2025.[67]

    Other

    In March 2025, the Vancouver International Auto Show removed Tesla from its line-up due to safety concerns.[68]

    The April 5, 2025 episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) referenced the increase in vandalism in its cold open. In the cold open, Mike Myers, playing Musk, says the reason no one likes Teslas is because of Musk, before playing a video that introduces an electric car that vandalizes itself. The real Musk responded to the sketch by saying that SNL "hasn't been funny in a long time".[69]

    References

    1. ^ Vitello, Barbara (March 19, 2025). "'Stay away': Judge orders accused Tesla vandal to keep off company's property". Daily Herald. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    2. ^ O'Brien, Lily (March 22, 2025). "Family speaks out after Tesla vandalized at Wichita restaurant". KAKE. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    3. ^ Calfee, Kendrick (March 18, 2025). "Fire burns Tesla Cybertrucks at Kansas City dealership. Police say it may have been arson". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on March 18, 2025.
    4. ^ Wermus, Katie (April 4, 2025). "Bloomington Tesla vandalism suspect not facing charges: Police". FOX 9. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
    5. ^ Nguyen, Renee; Kramer, Ethan (March 31, 2025). "Charges filed after Tesla vandalized in West Fargo Costco parking lot". Valley News Live. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
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    11. ^ Robinson Jr., Gary (March 21, 2025). "Tesla owner speaks out after vehicle vandalized in downtown Syracuse". CNY Central. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    12. ^ Jacobson, Roni (March 22, 2025). "Red swastika sprayed on Tesla Cybertruck in Manhattan is investigated as hate crime: NYPD". The New York Daily News. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
    13. ^ McCormick, Annie (March 24, 2025). "Cybertruck vandalized as owner ate inside Newtown Twp., Bucks County restaurant". ABC 6. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
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    18. ^ Brams, Sophie (March 17, 2025). "Man accused of burning Tesla chargers in North Charleston granted bond". Count on 2. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
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    21. ^ Parr, Julie (March 26, 2025). "Texarkana man accused of running mini 4-wheeler into Teslas". KTBS. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
    22. ^ Gothner, Rosh Lowe, Chris (2025-03-28). "Woman faces felony for Tesla bubble gum vandalism, cops say". WPLG. Retrieved 2025-03-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    23. ^ Dinkelspiel, Frances (March 22, 2025). "Berkeley Trump supporter arrested after firing stun gun at crowd of Tesla protesters". Berkeleyside. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
    24. ^ Hawkins, Stephen (April 7, 2025). "Tesla vandal caught on camera slashing tire in Clovis". FOX 26. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
    25. ^ Moran, Jocelyn (March 18, 2025). "San Jose police arrest man in viral Tesla vandalism video". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    26. ^ "Encinitas Tesla dealership defaced by spray-painted swastikas, profanity". ABC 10. March 18, 2025. Archived from the original on March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    27. ^ Chen, Michael (March 22, 2025). "Tesla Model 3 vandalized outside Vista home". ABC 10. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    28. ^ Lim, Dion (March 26, 2025). "EXCLUSIVE: Video shows vandal spray-painting East Bay man's Tesla". ABC 7. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
    29. ^ Medina, Madilynne (March 30, 2025). "Tesla Cybertruck vandalism caught on surveillance footage at Bay Area home". SFGate. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
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    38. ^ Foran, Andrew (March 13, 2025). "Tigard Tesla dealership shot for second time in a week". KOIN. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    39. ^ McCarty, Alma (February 12, 2025). "Video shows vandal spray-painting "Nazi" on Portland man's Tesla". KGW8. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
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    42. ^ "Portland man arrested after police say he pointed laser at Tesla employees inside dealership". Oregonlive. April 6, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
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    49. ^ Raptis, Mike (April 1, 2025). victoria-police-suspect-keying-tesla-cybertruck "Victoria police seek suspect caught on camera keying Tesla Cybertruck". Vancouver Sun. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
    50. ^ Brockman, Charles (2025-04-03). "Woman injured after Tesla windshield smashed in Vancouver". CityNews Vancouver. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
    51. ^ "Dozen Teslas torched outside French dealership: authorities". France 24. AFP. March 3, 2025. Archived from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
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    56. ^ "More Teslas targeted by paint pest, police probe after six cars damaged in one night". NZ Herald. 2025-03-10. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
    57. ^ "UK climate activists target Tesla robot in Elon Musk protest". Reuters. March 12, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    58. ^ Forrester, Megan (March 22, 2025). "Trump suggests Tesla vandals should be sent to prison in El Salvador". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    59. ^ Murray, Conor (March 21, 2025). "Tesla Protests And Vandalism Surge: Trump Says Vandals Should Serve 20-Year Sentences In El Salvador". Forbes. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    60. ^ a b Collier, Kevin; Kosnar, Michael (March 21, 2025). "No evidence of coordinated vandalism of Teslas despite Musk and Trump claims". NBC News. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    61. ^ Wold, Zachary B. (March 19, 2025). "Tesla vandals are terrorists, according to President Trump". CNN. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    62. ^ Altchek, Ana (March 21, 2025). "Elon Musk says the Tesla protesters vandalizing cars should 'stop being psycho'". Business Insider. Archived from the original on March 21, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
    63. ^ Rissman, Kelly (2025-03-19). "Elon Musk mocked for 'woe is me' interview on Hannity". The Independent. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
    64. ^ Riedel, Samantha (2025-03-21). "Elon Musk Is Trying to Blame Tesla Vandalism on "Trans Violence"". Them. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
    65. ^ Mangan, Dan (2025-03-24). "FBI launches Tesla threats task force: 'This is domestic terrorism'". CNBC. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
    66. ^ "3 people face federal charges for Tesla attacks. Are such acts domestic terrorism?". NPR. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
    67. ^ Carter, Tom. "Teslas are already expensive to insure. A wave of vandalism could make things a lot worse". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
    68. ^ Robledo, Anthony (March 19, 2025). "Tesla removed from Vancouver International Auto Show due to safety concerns". USA Today. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
    69. ^ Scully, Rachel (April 6, 2025). "'SNL' Cold Open roasts Trump tariffs, Tesla vandalism". The Hill. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
    Credit: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Tesla_vandalism

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