On Thursday morning, a Tesla dealership located in the Portland suburb of Tigard, Oregon, experienced its second gun-related incident in less than a week. According to the Tigard Police Department, the incident took place around 4:15 am, resulting in extensive damage to vehicles and showroom windows; fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Authorities stated that a similar shooting at the exact dealership happened on March 6th, prompting cooperation with federal agencies, such as the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), to advance investigations. An ATF explosive detection dog was deployed in both occurrences to assist in locating shell casings and evidence.
These incidents reflect broader anger directed toward Tesla and Elon Musk, specifically due to Musk's involvement as head of the influential Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration. The DOGE initiative has aimed at significantly downsizing the federal government's size, drawing sharp criticism and sparking protests and vandalism worldwide.
This growing discontent has evidently influenced consumer behavior; Australia's Electric Vehicle Council data shows a 35 percent decline in Tesla sales in the four months after Trump's election compared to the same timeframe the previous year. Furthermore, Tesla vehicles have become targets of vandalism in Australia and New Zealand, further indicating public backlash tied to Musk's political associations.
In a related incident in the Seattle suburb of Lynnwood, authorities reported six Tesla Cybertrucks spray-painted with swastikas and spray-painted profanity directed explicitly toward Musk. Additionally, four Cybertrucks were significantly damaged by fire in Seattle, though the investigators thus far have not publicly determined whether the fire or fires were intentional. Investigations into these incidents continue with federal cooperation.
In a public gesture of support amid declining sales figures and a falling stock price for Tesla, former President Donald Trump announced his plans on Tuesday to purchase a Tesla vehicle as a show of solidarity for Musk. Tesla has not yet publicly addressed these recent events or commented on developments surrounding these controversies.
8 Comments
Manolo Noriega
Tesla's declining sales and plummeting stock price show that consumers do care about the company's political involvement.
Fuerza
Instead of resorting to violence, people should use their democratic right to vote and voice their opinions peacefully.
Manolo Noriega
These events are a reminder of the importance of tolerance and respect for differing viewpoints. Let's build bridges, not walls.
Ongania
Let the authorities investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. Violence is never the answer.
Manolo Noriega
These actions, although extreme, represent the voices of people who feel unheard and ignored by powerful entities.
Leonardo
Generalizing all Tesla owners or supporters as "Trumpists" is unfair and inaccurate.
Raphael
The hatred towards Tesla is getting out of control. Shooting up dealerships and vandalizing vehicles doesn't solve anything.
Michelangelo
These incidents are acts of violence and property damage, regardless of the motivation. They should be condemned regardless of who owns the dealership.