Tesla stores have increasingly become targets of vandals amid rising discontent with the company’s CEO, Elon Musk.
In one case, a Tesla store has even become the target of arson and the FBI is getting involved.
Over the last few weeks, and especially after Musk threw out two Nazi salutes at Trump’s inauguration, Tesla stores have been targeted by vandals.
There have been a few examples in Europe of anti-nazi. Last week, a Tesla showroom in The Hague was vandalized with graffiti of swastikas and phrases such as “Nee tegen nazi’s” and “Fuck off fascist.”
A group also projected Musk’s salute and the word “Heil” onto the Tesla factory in Berlin:
But the backlash against Tesla appears to be ramping up as we now learn of an even more extreme example.
The Loveland, Colorado police said that the local Tesla store was targeted by vandals on two occasions lately:
On January 29th, 2025, and February 2nd, 2025, the Loveland Police Department received reports of similar incidents at the same location; however, these incidents were of lesser magnitude than today’s.
But things ramped up.
Top comment by BCV
How times have changed. I would have been one of those people talking about the importance of peaceful protest, not damaging property, rule of law, etc.
We now live in a time where insurrection is unpunishable, Elon Musk has bought an end to numerous federal investigations into his company (not an exaggeration), and we have half of Congress arguing that Trump's executive orders can override laws and possibly even the constitution.
The arguments for peaceful protest and boycotts all rely on the assumption of Rule of Law and a functioning judicial system. Those assumptions have been thrown out the window. While I won't partake in vandalism myself, I can't get myself worked up about those that do. It's not like they're storming the capital or anything.
According to the police, the Tesla store was the target of an arson attempt on February 7th:
On February 7th, 2025, around 7 a.m., Loveland Police Officers were dispatched to a report of an attempted arson at 1606 North Lincoln Avenue, the local Tesla dealership. A preliminary investigation indicates the attempted arson took place shortly after midnight. In addition, various vehicles and the Tesla building were vandalized with graffiti, some of which were offensive and hateful in nature.
Here are some images of the mentioned graffiti (pictures via CBS and Reddit):
The Loveland police say that it is getting federal agencies involved:
As of this morning, we are working with our federal law enforcement partners from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well.
They also seek information from the public to try to find suspects.
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