2025-04-06T10:42:04+07:00Thanh Dat (Source: Reuters) / VTC News

Massive protests against Elon Musk, Tesla cars vandalized worldwide

In recent times, many Tesla (TSLA.O) infrastructure, offices and vehicles in many countries have become the target of vandalism, the cause is believed to stem from CEO Elon Musk’s controversial political views.

Elon Musk, a close ally of former US President Donald Trump and head of the US Department of Government Performance, has faced criticism for his support of far-right parties in Europe. These moves have caused public uproar, leading to a wave of protests and demonstrations in many places.

In recent weeks, protesters have gathered outside Tesla dealerships in Washington, DC, and Berlin, Germany, to express their opposition to the tech billionaire. In addition to protests, acts of vandalism targeting Tesla have also taken place globally.

In addition, Elon Musk confirmed that he plans to step down from his position as head of the US Department of Government Efficiency at the end of May this year, after completing federal spending reduction targets. This decision further adds to the controversy surrounding his political role in recent times.

USA

On March 20, US Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that three people were indicted in connection with the burning of cars at Tesla dealerships and charging stations across the United States.

Lucy Grace Nelson, 42, was charged with possession of an explosive device and malicious destruction of commercial property. According to the criminal complaint, Nelson made multiple appearances at a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado, in January and February. Police found a gas can, boxes of bottles and materials in her car, clear indications of an attempted arson attack.

In addition, Adam Matthew Lansky (41 years old) is accused of throwing about 8 Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Oregon. This attack caused serious damage, damaging many vehicles there.

Finally, Daniel Clarke-Pounder (24 years old) was charged with malicious damage to property after throwing a flammable device at Tesla charging stations in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Additionally, on March 18, another vandalism incident occurred in Las Vegas, where at least five Teslas were severely damaged, two of which were completely burned. According to the city’s Police Department, the incident is still under investigation to determine who was behind it.

A vandalism incident occurred in Las Vegas when at least five Tesla cars were severely damaged. (Video: Reuters)

Sweden

On March 31, Swedish media reported that two Tesla dealerships in Stockholm and Malmö were vandalized. Restore Wetlands, an organization that is part of the European A22 network, spray-painted the facilities orange in protest of Musk’s environmental policies. Public broadcaster SVT said four people had been arrested in connection with the incide

Two Tesla stores in Sweden were spray painted. (Video: Reuters)

IDEA

In the early morning of March 31, a massive fire broke out at a Tesla dealership in Rome, completely burning down 17 cars. According to security sources, Italian police are investigating the possibility that anarchist groups were behind the incident. This is considered one of the most serious sabotages against Tesla in Europe. In response to this development, billionaire Elon Musk spoke out on the X platform with a single word: “Terrorism”.

Virtue

On the same day, an environmental activist group called Neue Generation, also part of the A22 network, sprayed green paint on a Tesla dealership in Berlin to protest the company’s policies. This action was seen as a strong message from environmental activists, as Tesla has been repeatedly criticized for the environmental impact of its electric vehicle battery production.

Earlier, on March 29, in the city of Verden, northern Germany, 7 Tesla cars were burned down in a mysterious fire. Currently, local police are still investigating the cause of this fire, but have not ruled out the possibility that this was a deliberate act of sabotage.

Australia

In early March, a Tesla dealership in Tasmania, Australia, was vandalized with graffiti calling Musk a “fascist.” The incident quickly drew attention from the community, especially those who opposed Elon Musk’s political views. In a Facebook group for Tesla owners in Australia, many members have also shared that their cars have been vandalized in recent months, suggesting that this may not be an isolated incident but rather a widespread protest.

These incidents reflect a growing wave of opposition to Elon Musk and Tesla globally, especially amid political and social controversies surrounding the billionaire.

Tesla not only faces fierce competition in the electric car market, but also has to deal with the risks to its brand image due to the controversial moves of CEO Elon Musk. Currently, investigations are still ongoing in many countries to clarify the motives and the people behind these attacks.