Dozen Teslas torched outside French dealership, say authorities

TOULOUSE: A dozen Teslas were torched in France in what authorities are treating as an arson attack, the prosecutor's office said Monday.

The prosecutor's office said an investigation has been opened into Sunday night's attack on a dealership near the southern city of Toulouse which left eight cars burned out.

Another four cars were badly damaged amid evidence the blaze was "not at all accidental", said the prosecutor's office.

Philippe Guyot, mayor of the Toulouse suburb of Plaisance-du-Touch, said firefighters had quickly determined that the cause of the blaze was criminal, adding the dealership premises had not been targeted.

A handful of anti-Tesla actions have occurred in Europe since Elon Musk's rapprochement with US President Donald Trump, his backing of European far-right parties and attacks on diversity.

Sales of Tesla cars halved year-on-year in January 2025 in Germany and France.