The FBI has launched an investigation into vandalism and arson attacks targeting Tesla vehicles and dealerships across the United States.
The incidents, some of which have been linked to the #TeslaTakedown movement, have raised concerns about politically motivated violence.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed the investigation Wednesday, stating that federal authorities are treating the attacks as potential acts of domestic terrorism.
“Our teams are actively working on the Tesla incidents and the swatting incidents, along with our other responsibilities to keep the homeland safe,” Bongino said on social media platform X.
Swatting—making false emergency calls to dispatch armed police responses—has also been reported in connection with the attacks, targeting individuals associated with Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk.
Among the incidents under investigation:
- Las Vegas Collision Center Attack: An individual dressed in black reportedly set multiple Tesla vehicles on fire at a service center, with the word “Resist” spray-painted on the building. Authorities recovered an unexploded incendiary device from the scene.
- Kansas City Dealership Vandalism: The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are working with local police after Tesla’s Cybertrucks were damaged at a dealership in Missouri.
- Swatting Threats: Influential figures linked to Tesla and the Trump administration have been targeted in swatting incidents.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has condemned the attacks, warning of “severe consequences” for those responsible. The Department of Justice has already filed charges in several cases, which could carry mandatory minimum prison sentences.
The attacks coincide with broader political tensions surrounding Musk’s role as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump. Critics of the billionaire have linked him to workforce reductions in federal agencies, fueling protests.
Tesla’s first-quarter sales appear to have been impacted, with some owners displaying bumper stickers to distance themselves from Musk. Meanwhile, the Vancouver International Auto Show removed its Tesla exhibit due to safety concerns.
The incidents have sparked debate over whether additional federal legislation is needed to combat swatting and politically motivated vandalism. Some lawmakers have proposed reviving the Anti-Swatting Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in 2015 but never passed.
As the FBI investigation continues, authorities are urging the public to report any suspicious activity related to the attacks.
Axios and New York Post contributed to this report.
