Tesla vehicles were set on fire in apparent act of anti-EV vandalism

Tesla has more than its fair share of naysayers, but it’s generally limited to some nasty internet comments or in the worst cases, some legislation preventing them from selling their cars directly to customers.

Now it looks like some people are taking it to a new level as Tesla vehicles were set on fire in an apparent anti-EV/Tesla vandalism act.

In Amsterdam last week, two Tesla vehicles parked only about 100 meters apart were both set on fire by two arsonists.

One of the two Tesla owners caught the arsonists on camera.

He told AT5:

“My wife woke me because the car’s alarm went off. We soon realized that it was a fire because of the smoke and smell. The children were sleeping, so we were shocked. We have camera images of the two arsonists, which we shared with the police. Apparently not people who are fans of progress. [The Tesla] was fairly new, I only had it for four months. But I think I am well insured.”

Another local resident who witnessed the vehicles on fire commented:

“‘One was here, I saw it from my balcony. The other around the corner at the Vondel Church. Another car was damaged but that was because it was so close. It is clearly focused on the Teslas. Maybe they think they have too expensive cars?”

Politie Amsterdam Overtoomse Sluis shared a few images of the fires and aftermath. It looks like the vehicles were a Model S and a Model X:

The police says that the vehicles were totaled from the fires. No one was arrested yet and they are requesting information from the public.

Electrek’s Take

Considering there were plenty of other cars around, it clearly looks like the Tesla vehicles were targeted. Though the actual motivation behind the act is less obvious.

It’s reminiscent of previous strange vandalism incidents of Tesla products, like when a Tesla Supercharger was sabotaged in 2016 or when a Model S was graffitied.

But burning cars is a whole new level.

Forget the criminal aspect to it, I mean if Tesla is the target here, that’s not the way to go. If anything the owners are in for a headache, the insurers are the ones who are going to pay, and Tesla is just going to have to make two more cars.

There’s gotta be a better way to get your message across if there’s even a message there.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.