A dozen Tesla electric superchargers were set on fire in an arson attack in the carpark of a supermarket in St-Chamond, central France, according to a police source.
The fire erupted overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, causing severe damage to the charging stations, with two of them being completely destroyed. The other chargers sustained considerable damage, leaving the car park in disarray.
A message reading "Anti-Tesla campaign born to burn" was found painted in white on the car park floor, suggesting that the attack was part of a wider protest against the electric car company.
The police source confirmed that this incident marked "the first act targeting the business of billionaire American Elon Musk" in the Loire region. No arrests had been made, and an investigation for "damage and destruction by fire" had been opened.
Earlier this month, a similar attack occurred near Toulouse, where a dozen Tesla vehicles were torched, leaving eight completely burnt out and four others badly damaged. Anti-Tesla actions have been increasing in Europe, especially since Musk's involvement with former US President Donald Trump and his support for European far-right parties.
There have also been a series of attacks on Tesla property in the United States, which Attorney General Pam Bondi described as "nothing short of domestic terrorism."
