Public anger against billionaire Elon Musk is rising globally, with protests targeting Tesla, his electric car company. On Friday, four Tesla vehicles were set on fire in Berlin, Germany, in what appears to be the latest act of vandalism against the company.
Tesla Cars Torched in Berlin
German police confirmed that the fires occurred in the Plänterwald and Steglitz neighborhoods of Berlin in the early hours of Friday. The first fire was reported just before 2 a.m. local time, followed by three more shortly after.
“Political motives cannot be ruled out at this stage,” police said in a statement. “No one was injured, but all four vehicles were completely destroyed, and several others nearby suffered damage.”
The arson attacks come amid growing protests against Musk’s close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump. Musk was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after Trump took office, a role that has seen him oversee massive layoffs in the federal workforce.
Violence Against Tesla Escalates Worldwide
The attacks on Tesla properties are not limited to Germany. In the U.S., Tesla dealerships have also been targeted in recent weeks.
On Thursday, gunshots were fired at a Tesla dealership in Oregon for the second time in a week, damaging showroom windows and vehicles. A similar shooting had taken place on March 6 at the same location.
In New York City, protesters gathered outside a Tesla showroom last weekend, voicing their frustration with Musk’s involvement in the U.S. government. Some demonstrators were arrested after breaking into the dealership and shattering glass doors.
Chants of “We need clean air, not another billionaire” could be heard outside the facility as police cleared the area.
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Attacks Spread Across Europe and the U.S.
Several other incidents have targeted Tesla in recent months.
- On March 5, arsonists set 12 Tesla vehicles on fire outside a dealership in Toulouse, France. Eight cars were completely destroyed, while four were severely damaged. French authorities have launched a criminal investigation.
- That same day, seven Tesla charging stations in Littleton, Massachusetts, were burned, causing major damage and releasing thick smoke into the air.
- In Seattle, protesters spray-painted swastikas and insults directed at Musk on a Tesla dealership. That same weekend, four Cybertrucks were destroyed in a suspicious fire at a Tesla storage lot.
Musk’s political associations have fueled much of the backlash. In January, activist groups in the U.K. and Germany projected an image onto Tesla’s Gigafactory in Berlin showing Musk appearing to make a Nazi-like salute. The message “Heil Tesla” was displayed alongside allegations that Musk has ties to far-right political figures, including Germany’s AfD party, known for its controversial rhetoric.
Trump Defends Musk, Calls Protesters “Domestic Terrorists”
Despite the growing protests, Musk has received strong backing from President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Trump staged a public show of support by shopping for a Tesla on the White House driveway. Standing beside a red Model S, he dismissed the criticism of Musk and warned against violence toward Tesla.
Trump said, “People protesting against Tesla should be labelled domestic terrorists. They are harming a great American company, and anyone using violence against Tesla will go through hell.”
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump blamed Tesla’s declining stock price on “radical left lunatics” who, he claimed, were “illegally and collusively boycotting” the company.
Following Trump’s remarks, Tesla’s stock rose nearly four percent on Tuesday, though it remains down 48 percent since Trump took office in January.
