A Tesla dealership in France has been targeted by “anarchists” in an arson attack, who have recently slammed owner Elon Musk for his political actions.
The Anti-Authoritarian Information Toulouse and Surrounding Areas (IAATA) anarchist group claimed responsibility for the attack in Plaisance-du-Touch, Toulouse.
The group said it set fire to vehicles inside the dealership using two gasoline cans, before questioning whether firelights “would not have been a more effective means”.
Reports suggest that 12 vehicles were impacted, while the damage was estimated to be worth a staggering €700,000 or £580,000.
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The Toulouse dealership was targeted by arsonists who caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage
GETTY/IAATA
French newspaper La Depeche reported that instances of arson had been seen in the city in December last year.
Speaking to AFP, Philippe Guyot, mayor of the Toulouse suburb of Plaisance-du-Touch, said firefighters had determined the cause of the fire was criminal, adding that the dealership building was not targeted.
The IAATA described itself as the “combative anti-fascism” on its website, adding that it does not believe in the “myth of democracy”.
Its “fire salute to Tesla” message indirectly blamed founder and CEO of the electric vehicle giant, Elon Musk, for its motivation behind targeting the dealership.
Eight vehicles were fully destroyed, while a further four suffered fire damage
GETTY
The message said: “In the face of the current masculinist and transphobic offensive, we are a fragment of the fight against patriarchy.
“Faced with the industrial ravages that are destroying the planet, we are the radical ecology that does not believe in technological solutions. Let’s continue the offensive against the techno-fascists!”
It called on other factions around the world to engage in the “anarchist conflict” while other radical sites have further incited violence, including providing advice on how to make Molotov cocktails.
Instances of vandalism against Tesla and Elon Musk have taken place in recent weeks, including by protest groups Led By Donkeys and Political Beauty.
The groups protected the word “heil” onto the exterior of Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory in January alongside Elon Musk with an outstretched arm, which many claimed was a Nazi salute, although he denied this was the case.
It comes as Tesla sales have fallen in France and across Europe as many industry experts point to Elon Musk’s political activity and controversial statements.
Tesla sales in France declined a staggering 45 per cent over the first two months of the year compared to the same time last year.
While the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling electric vehicle last year and the 10th most sold car, it has plummeted to 27th on the list this year.
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The dealership building was not targeted by the arsonists
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In the UK, Tesla sold just 1,458 vehicles in January, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This falls well behind competitors, including Volkswagen (13,565), Kia (10,813), BMW (9,265) and crucially, BYD (1,614).