The string of arson attacks are the latest in a series of anti-Elon Musk protests, with some Germans furious at the Tesla owner’s support for the far-right AfD party, and Nazi-style salute
Four electric Tesla cars have been set ablaze in Berlin this morning, with German police saying a “political motive” cannot be ruled out.
The fires, which broke out in different parts of the city, come amid growing backlash against Elon Musk following his endorsement of the far-right AfD party and his Nazi-style salute at Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The multiple arson attacks, which took place across the German capital, took place in the midst of growing backlash to Tesla owner Elon Musk’s endorsement of the far-right German AfD party, as well as his alleged use of a Nazi salute during Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The first Tesla blaze was reported at 1.40am in the eastern district of Plänterwald. Just 30 minutes later, another Tesla was found engulfed in flames in Steglitz, on the opposite side of the city. Within minutes, two more cars were seen burning only a few streets away.
Firefighters rushed to the scenes and managed to alleviate the flames before they could spread anywhere else. However, all four Teslas were completely destroyed, and several nearby cars also suffered some damage.
Berlin police confirmed that the State Security Division—a unit that investigates terrorism, extremism, and organised crime—has taken over the case. A spokesperson said: “As yet unknown perpetrators set fire to a total of four Tesla electric cars last night. No one was injured, and firefighters extinguished the fires. Since a political motive cannot be ruled out, the investigation has been taken over by the State Security Division.”
This attack is just the latest in a string of anti-Musk protest across Germany. In January, activists projected an image of the X owner and Trump ally making a Nazi-style salute onto Tesla’s Berlin so-called Gigafactory, accompanied by the words: “Heil Tesla.”
And it’s not just in Germany that activists have shown their anger at Trump. Last week, Tesla charging stations were set alight in Massachusetts, USA, as part of growing demonstrations against the South African billionaire.
Local police revealed that in total seven stations were torched, and added that the fire was deliberately started.
Musk, who leads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which aims at cutting bureaucratic costs ,has been at the centre of controversy in recent weeks both in the US and around the world.
He has overseen mass layoffs of government workers, fuelling ire against him and his businesses. Meanwhile, Tesla has reportedly seen a drop in car sales with customers apparently put off by the scandal-ridden CEO.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.