If an attack on 20 Tesla cars in Belfast is linked to the company’s controversial boss – billionaire Elon Musk – then “its more reprehensible than mindless vandalism”, the deputy leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice has said.
On Sunday, approximately 20 cars were damaged at a Tesla dealership on the Boucher Road in Belfast. Most of the cars had their wing mirrors knocked off, while others also had windows smashed or were dented.
A PSNI spokesperson said on Monday morning: “The damage is believed to have occurred at some point in the last 24 hours.”
South African billionaire Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, did not found electric car giant Tesla, but is widely attributed to its success after becoming an early investor in 2004 and later becoming its CEO.
The company is the world’s leading electric car provider and is often ranked as one of the biggest businesses in the world.
However, Tesla’s share price has plummeted since the start of the year, after Musk joined the Trump administration. He has since cut thousands of public sector jobs in the US.
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Last week, Mr Trump hosted an event at the White House where he promised to buy a Tesla in a show of support for Musk, while several of the car manufacturer’s latest models were put on display in the garden of the building.
In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph, the TUV’s deputy leader Ron McDowell criticised those behind the Belfast vandalism.
“If this is another case of a business linked to Elon Musk being targeted because of his political views, it is even more reprehensible than mindless vandalism,” he said.
“Mr Musk – like anyone – is entitled to express political opinions and frankly his approach to freedom of speech on social media is a welcome development in a world where this is increasingly under threat.
Tesla on the Boucher Road on the 17th March 2024 (Luke Jervis Belfast Telegraph)
“Should the attack be a response to that I would remind those responsible that freedom of speech is something we all benefit from. Should it go, there is no telling who could be silenced – whether they come from the left or right of the political spectrum.
“I would appeal for anyone with information about this attack to come forward to the PSNI.”
The attack on the cars in Belfast comes just days after four of the branded motors were set on fire in the Plänterwald and Steglitz areas of Berlin, Germany which happened after Mr Trump’s public display of affection for the company.
Tesla cars were also set on fire in January – on the day of Mr Trump’s inauguration – in Oregon.
German police said they cannot rule out a “political motive” behind the fires, and the State Security Division of the Berlin State Criminal Police Office has taken over the investigation.
Over the weekend, a series of protests at dealerships also took place as part of “Tesla Takedown UK”. The group, inspired by American counterpart Tesla Takedown, vowed to damage the company’s stock further and called for a boycott of Musk’s electric vehicle company.
Both Tesla and the Belfast Telsa showroom were contacted for comment.