Authorities say arson attack on Tesla in France was not an accident
While every car enthusiast will have at least thought of doing something like this at some point, surely none would be insane enough to actually go through with it, right? Nope, apparently someone or multiple “someones” in France just decided something about Tesla was especially annoying to them the other day and took matters into their own hands.
The prosecutor’s office has confirmed to AFP that an investigation is underway following a suspected arson attack on a Tesla dealership near Toulouse, in the south of France. The incident occurred on Sunday night, resulting in significant damage to the dealership, including the destruction of eight cars.
Moreover, four more Tesla cars were severely damaged in the blaze, which authorities have determined was “not accidental.” Philippe Guyot, the mayor of Plaisance-du-Touch, a suburb of Toulouse, spoke with AFP and revealed that firefighters were quick to establish that the cause of the fire was criminal.
He also clarified that the premises of the dealership, while targeted by the attack, were not the specific focus of the perpetrators. The investigation is now ongoing, with officials seeking to uncover the full extent and motive behind the attack.
On top of that, this act of violence is not an isolated incident but part of a growing trend of anti-Tesla sentiment in Europe. A series of similar actions targeting Tesla and its brand have been reported, particularly following controversial statements by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. What he did exactly to spark this outrage is unclear given how controversial he is in general.
Musk’s public support for US President Donald Trump, along with his backing of far-right political movements in Europe, are deemed to be the main reason behind these sentiments among certain groups. Additionally, Musk’s criticism of diversity initiatives has added fuel to the fire, intensifying the backlash against his company.
The anti-Tesla sentiment appears to be having a tangible impact on sales in key European markets. According to recent reports, Tesla’s sales in both Germany and France dropped sharply in January 2025, with figures showing a 50 percent decrease in car sales compared to the previous year.
As journalists, we at DSF are obligated to keep our readers informed but we also need to remind our readers that behaviour like this is never acceptable. WHatever one may feel about Tesla or Elon Musk, a crime is still a crime and crime is punishable by law, so please, express your dissatisfaction in more legal ways.
We got all this from France 24 and their full article is linked here. Thank you France 24 for the information and images.
