CO Tesla Dealer Is Vandalized 3 Times in 10 Days, Tesla Owners FB Page Says, “Recent Attacks Are Not Limited to Dealerships But Also Extend to Tesla Owners”

Tesla owners may be targeted for hate crimes. A new report from 9 News in Denver says a Tesla dealer in Loveland, Colorado, has been vandalized three times in ten days. The Tesla Owners Facebook page says owners are also being targeted. Are you at risk?

Does the Tesla Cybertruck have a bullseye painted on it?

A report from 9 News in Denver, Colorado, says that Loveland police are investigating an attempted arson and vandalism that occurred at a Tesla dealership.

9 News says, "Just after midnight Friday, someone attempted arson on the property at 1606 N. Lincoln Ave., according to Loveland Police. The dealership's building and some of its vehicles were spray-painted with graffiti. Police said some of the graffiti was offensive and hateful." 

The report says Federal ATF agents are also investigating after someone vandalized a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado, and tried to start a fire as well. 

9 News says that whoever did this targeted the Tesla dealer and the Tesla cars on the lot. In the 9 News report, a Tesla Cybertruck sits on the dealer's lot as ATF agents look at the truck's vandalism. The image does not show what was spray painted on the side of the polarizing truck.  

Kevin Vaughn, a reporter for 9 News, says, 

"This is the third time this dealership has been vandalized in the last ten days, and Loveland police said this is the most serious of the three incidents." 

A woman driving by on Saturday morning captured words left on the dealership's front windows overnight that said, "Nazi Cars," says Vaughn.

The FBI and ATF are Assisting in the Investigations

The report says agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrived to investigate. At this point, they don't know anything about the alleged arson.

There is no visible sign of a fire, and the dealership has remained open and operating normally. Customers have been seen coming and going, and even vehicles are going out on test drives.

Reporters are Told To Contact Tesla For a Statement

"Management at the Tesla dealership told 9 News to contact Tesla's national press office for details about this incident. We sent a message to them asking for a comment and have not heard back."

9 News also asked for more information about the attempted arson, and a Loveland Police spokesperson said they did not have additional information at this time.

The Tesla dealer also filed similar reports of vandalism on January 29 and February 2, police said. The previous vandalisms were of a lesser proportion, according to Loveland Police.

A post on the Tesla Owners Facebook page says, 

"Tesla appears to be a frequent target of political activists, as this marks the third act of vandalism at this location. Over the past decade, the company has faced similar incidents, often from individuals opposing electric vehicles or environmentalists concerned about lithium and cobalt mining. However, recent attacks are not limited to dealerships but also extend to Tesla owners."

"The company has become an easy target for those frustrated with its CEO's actions, though it's important to remember that Tesla is much bigger than one person. While Elon Musk is a brilliant engineer, he has openly discussed his struggles with Asperger's syndrome, which can impact social interactions." 

"Regardless of personal opinions about its leadership, Tesla remains committed to its mission: "accelerating the world's transition to sustainable energy."

By the way, before we move forward you need to know that Tesla recently made something seemingly impossible, by making the Cybertruck looking cheap, using the Model X. How? Look at this fresh video from the Youtube Channel of Torque News.

 

Are Tesla Owners Being Targeted?

Reddit users say they have been targeted.

One Tesla owner posted images of the damage in a Tesla Model Y Reddit post. The photos show smashed front and driver's side windows.

Another Redditor experienced a similar situation. After writing a Facebook post encouraging people to switch to an EV to save money on gas, they woke up to find that their car's charging port had been damaged.

• fedora_and_a_whip says, "My wife and I came out of the grocery store to find a banana peel tossed on the vault cover of our Cybertruck. No harm, but obviously, someone was jealous."
• Wildy84 - "I also love how they say vandalism towards electric vehicles is common'… um, no, it's not, especially not in Portland. Tesla is the only brand (EV or not) that's specifically targeted. This week, three Tesla vehicles were keyed in my wife's office car park."

Final Thoughts and Questions for Tesla Owners

A report from TCD says, "Tesla CEO Elon Musk's recent controversial moments could also have played a role, as some Tesla owners have even said they would be selling their vehicle as a result. It seems likely that anyone with concerns about Musk would understand that owning a Tesla does not mean approval of everything the company's leader has said and done.”

Are You Concerned About Being Targeted? 

If you're a Tesla owner who has experienced vandalism, we encourage you to share your story. If not, are you concerned about being targeted in the future? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let your voice be heard.

Check out my Tesla report titled; Tesla Former Chief Engineer Reveals Real Reason Why Tesla’s Charge Port Is On the Left Rear, “It’s Because of the Layout of Elon Musk's Rented Garage in Bel Air, He Didn’t Even Own the Place”

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via 9 News