French authorities started an official investigation after twelve Tesla cars burned down outside a Toulouse-area dealership during Sunday night. The prosecutor’s office confirmed that eight vehicles were completely burned down, and four more vehicles received major damage. Officials have confirmed deliberate arson as the cause since all evidence indicates arson was the source of the fire.
The firefighters from Plaisance-du-Touch under Mayor Philippe Guyot verified that arson caused the fire that destroyed the Tesla vehicles at the dealership. The fire remained within the vehicles without damaging any other area of the dealership building.
The attack represents a growing pattern of anti-Tesla activities throughout Europe because of intensifying resistance to Elon Musk’s political positions. European opposition continues to grow against Tesla CEO Elon Musk because of his backing for former U.S. President Donald Trump, his support for far-right European parties, and his opposition to diversity initiatives.
The attack on Tesla’s dealership premises occurs during a period where the company encounters major difficulties in the European market. The sales numbers for Tesla vehicles registered a year-over-year decrease of 50% throughout January 2025 in both German and French markets. The electric vehicle market competition and brand-related political controversies seem to have led customers to avoid buying Tesla vehicles, which resulted in this sales decrease.
Law enforcement considers the arson incident to be a major criminal offense despite the lack of any group taking responsibility. Authorities will work to discover the perpetrators behind the incident and establish if political motives were involved. Tesla has made no official announcement about this matter. The security situation in France remains heightened due to rising tensions related to the company.