In recent weeks, acts of vandalism against Tesla have multiplied. Recently, on March 18th, several vehicles of the brand were engulfed in flames outside a repair centre in Las Vegas.
Since the return of Donald Trump to power, Tesla sales have plummeted (not to mention the collapse of the stock market). The recent political positions of his right-hand man, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, are not unanimous, prompting some progressive movements to target the brand.
A new attack by fire
It seems that Musk’s Nazi salute during Trump’s inauguration is at the root of this new attack: according to the authorities, witnesses claim to have seen an individual dressed in black setting the cars on fire with a Molotov cocktail, the media outlet L’Indépendant reports. The word “resist” was also painted on one of the building’s walls. The message is rather clear.
Elon Musk denounced on his social media network X (formerly Twitter) a “terrorist” act and accuses “the left” of being responsible. The US Justice Minister, Pam Bondi, seems to share these claims, calling the targeted attack “domestic terrorism”.
Calls for boycott
Furthermore, several calls for a boycott have been launched against Tesla all over the world. According to Forbes France, “Tesla’s shares are down 41% since the beginning of the year, representing the second worst loss of all companies listed on the S & P”.
Amid this wave of protest, voices are being raised, demanding a change at the head of the brand. A historical investor in Tesla, Ross Gerber, recently stated on Sky News that Elon Musk should consider resigning from his position as CEO. “Elon spends so much time on government action that he neglects Tesla. Everyone has 24 hours in a day. Either Elon returns to Tesla and resumes his role as CEO full-time, or he continues to engage in politics and appoints a competent leader for the company.”
