Tesla hit by arson again: Why Elon Musk’s EV company has been at the centre of attacks? Explained

Ongoing protests have been levied against tech mogul Elon Musk's electric car company in recent weeks. From cybertrucks being set ablaze to bullets and Molotov cocktails aimed at Tesla showrooms, attacks on property carrying the logo of Elon Musk's electric-car company are cropping up across the US and overseas.

Multiple Tesla vehicles were set on fire and shot at a Las Vegas service centre overnight, according to a CNN report. The attack, which occurred at the Tesla Collision Center, resulted in at least five vehicles being damaged, with two of them fully engulfed in flames. The FBI is investigating the incident, stating that it has "some of the hallmarks" of terrorism.


Even though no injuries have been reported, Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations and privately owned cars have been targeted. In Canada, Tesla was removed from an international auto show over safety concerns.

The attacks coincide with growing criticism of Musk’s leadership in the Department of Government Efficiency, a federal cost-cutting initiative. As the head of the program, Musk has faced nationwide protests, many of which have been directed at Tesla, the company he leads.

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Rise in Tesla attacks

There has been a sharp rise in Tesla attacks since Donald Trump returned to the White House and picked Elon Musk to oversee a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that is slashing government spending. Experts on domestic extremism say it's impossible to know yet if the spate of incidents will balloon into a long-term pattern.

When Trump came to power in the first term, his properties in New York City, Washington and elsewhere were targeted and became a natural place for protest. During his second term, Tesla is filling that position, according to news agency AP.

"Tesla is an easy target," said Randy Blazak, a sociologist who studies political violence. "They're rolling down our streets. They have dealerships in our neighbourhoods." Musk critics have organised dozens of peaceful demonstrations at Tesla dealerships and factories across North America and Europe. Some Tesla owners, including a US senator who feuded with Musk, have vowed to sell their vehicles.

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The Las Vegas incident is the latest in a string of attacks on Tesla vehicles and facilities in the US. In early March, seven Tesla charging stations were set on fire at a shopping mall near Boston. Less than a week later, six protesters were arrested after occupying a Tesla showroom in New York City. In Oregon, a Tesla dealership was hit by gunfire in the early hours of Thursday, damaging three cars and shattering windows.

A number of the most prominent incidents have been reported in left-leaning cities in the Pacific Northwest, like Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, where anti-Trump and anti-Musk sentiment runs high.

Four Cybertrucks were set on fire in a Tesla lot in Seattle earlier this month. On Friday, witnesses reported a man poured gasoline on an unoccupied Tesla Model S and started a fire on a Seattle street. "Was this terrorism? Was it something else? It certainly has some of the hallmarks that we might think - the writing on the wall, potential political agenda, an act of violence," Spencer Evans, the special agent in charge of the Las Vegas FBI office, said at a news conference. "None of those factors are lost on us."

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Why Tesla has become a target of the left?

Tesla was once a favorite among left. Bolstered by a $465 million federal loan during the Obama administration, the company revolutionized the electric vehicle market, dispelling early misconceptions that EVs had to be small, uninspiring, and lacking in power or range.

In recent years, however, Elon Musk has aligned himself more with the political right. His acquisition of Twitter—now X—led to the removal of restrictions that had frustrated conservatives. He also became the largest financial backer of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, reportedly contributing around $250 million.

While still overseeing Tesla, Musk also runs X and SpaceX, all while serving as an adviser to Trump.

Tesla’s stock initially doubled in value following Trump’s election but has since erased those gains. Trump, despite his past criticism of EVs, showcased Tesla vehicles at the White House and even announced plans to purchase an $80,000 Model S.

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Tesla declined to comment on recent events, but Musk addressed the rising backlash on Sen. Ted Cruz's podcast, alleging that "left-wing organizations funded by billionaires" were behind some of the vandalism targeting the company. On X, he condemned the attacks, sharing footage of burning Teslas in Las Vegas, writing: "This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong. Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks."

The progressive group Indivisible, which has organized “Musk Or Us” protests, stated that its guidance explicitly promotes peaceful demonstrations and condemns violence or vandalism.

Some Tesla owners have taken to adding bumper stickers to distance themselves from the controversy, with messages like: "I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy" and "I just wanted an electric car. Sorry guys."

Meanwhile, the resale market for Tesla's most recognizable model, the Cybertruck, has taken a hit. Prices for used units have dropped nearly 8% since Trump took office, even as the broader used car market has remained stable, according to CarGurus.

What has White House said?

The White House has thrown its weight behind Musk, the highest-profile member of Trump's administration and a key donor to committees promoting Trump's political interests. Trump has said Tesla vandalism amounts to "domestic terror," and Trump has threatened retribution, warning that those who target the company are "going to go through hell."

Attorney General Pam Bondi said she'd opened an investigation "to see how is this being funded, who is behind this."

"If you're going to touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out because we're coming after you," Bondi said Friday on Fox Business Network.

In a statement Tuesday, she vowed to "continue investigations that impose severe consequences," including for "those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes."

(With inputs from AP)