- At least twelve cars at a Tesla dealership in France were severely damaged by fire, with damages estimated at €700,000.
- Authorities suspect arson due to multiple fire origins and specific car targeting, excluding damage to the building.
- The incident coincides with broader global protests involving vandalism and targeted attacks on Tesla properties.
On Sunday night, one or more individuals set fire to at least a dozen cars at a Tesla dealership in France, according to a magistrate from the Toulouse public prosecutor’s office. The attack damaged both vehicles for sale and customer cars in for repairs. While the motive remains unclear, it appears to be the latest, and possibly the most serious, incident amid growing tensions surrounding Tesla. Protests targeting the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, have been on the rise in recent months.
Authorities say that they believe this was arson in part because of the fire pattern itself. It appears as though there were at minimum three separate fire origins and that none of the fire damaged the building itself. Of the twelve vehicles bruned, eight were completely destroyed, while four sustained partial damage. The prosecutor’s office called the fire “not at all accidental.”
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According to FranceInfo, damage estimates are hovering around 700,000 Euros or about $735,000 at current exchange rates. Video from the scene shows the extent of the destruction, including cars burned so severely that only their skeletal remains are left.
It appears as though the arsonist targeted a small group of cars including several Model Ys and Model 3s. In another section of the lot we see a Model 3 damaged on the front but in far better shape than some other cars in the lot.
Over the past few months, protests and demonstrations against Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have been ramping up. Weeks ago, protesters projected the word Heil onto the Berlin Gigafactory. Others put up anti-Tesla posters in London, while more demonstrators gathered outside dealerships across the U.S. in the past month.
One person was arrested for attempted but failed arson at a dealership last week. At the same time, it very well appears to be the most dangerous and destructive in nature. While some vandals have targeted charging stations or individual cars, none have gone to this sort of scale.
Tesla and Musk Remain Silent
Despite the growing wave of anti-Tesla actions, both the company and Musk have remained largely silent. Aside from Tesla’s previous statement vowing to prosecute vandals targeting charging stations, there’s been little response. French authorities, meanwhile, have yet to release any information about possible suspects.
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Consumers, however, seem to be making their stance known with their wallets. Tesla’s sales have taken a significant hit across multiple European markets. In the first two months of 2025, sales dropped 45% in France and Norway, while Sweden saw a 42% decline compared to the same period last year. Denmark was hit even harder, with Tesla’s sales plummeting by 48% in February alone.