Vancouver police blame backlash against Elon Musk for string of Tesla dealership incidents

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 21, 2025 9:53 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

Vancouver constabulary accidental they person recorded 8 "acts of mischief" targeting Tesla dealerships since Jan. 1 and they judge backlash against Elon Musk is to blame.

The latest incidental happened Friday greeting successful Kitsilano erstwhile constabulary were called to a dealership astatine 1:30 a.m. wherever constabulary accidental "obscenities" had been spray-painted connected the beforehand model of the business.

One idiosyncratic was arrested and is owed to look successful tribunal May 15.

In a quality release, Cst. Tania Vistin said determination person been "eight confirmed acts of mischief successful Vancouver that constabulary judge are politically motivated and successful absorption to Tesla proprietor Elon Musk's governmental affiliation with the U.S. government."

She confirmed to CBC News that each 8 incidents were astatine dealerships and nary different arrests person been made.

WATCH | Tesla removed from Vancouver car amusement implicit information concerns: 

Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has been intimately associated with U.S. President Donald Trump. The billionaire played an progressive relation successful the president's predetermination run and was appointed to oversee the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been slashing authorities spending and programs.

Canada-wide anger

Sentiment against the American president has turned sour successful overmuch of Canada since Trump started imposing tariffs connected Canadians goods, and repeatedly telling reporters that his desired result of the commercialized war is for Canada to go the 51st state.

In aboriginal January, then-prime curate Justin Trudeau posted a effect connected X to Trump mockingly calling Canada the 51st state. 

In a Jan. 8 post, 2 days aft Trudeau announced helium would beryllium stepping down, Musk replied, "Girl, you're not the politician of Canada anymore, truthful it doesn't substance what you say," echoing Trump's wont of referring to the premier curate arsenic a governor, the rubric fixed to leaders of states.

Last month, thousands of Canadians started signing a petition to person Musk's citizenship revoked for his attempts to "attack Canadian sovereignty." 

"Canada is not a existent country," helium responded connected X, successful a since-deleted post. 

• This Sunday, Cross Country Checkup is asking: Whether you ain a Tesla oregon not … what's your absorption to each the backlash? Leave your comment here and we may work it or call you backmost for our show.

Vancouver is not the lone spot wherever Tesla products person been targeted: protests, damaged vehicles and adjacent arson person been reported crossed Canada, the United States and parts of Europe.

The Vancouver International Auto Show removed Tesla from its lawsuit this week, saying its superior interest was the information of attendees and exhibitors. The B.C., Manitoba and Nova Scotia governments person besides removed Tesla from their lists of eligible products for rebate programs promoting electrical conveyance usage, citing Musk's authorities arsenic the reason.

In Nanaimo, connected Vancouver Island, 7 Tesla superchargers were rendered inoperable aft being vandalized and 2 were "completely incinerated" by fire, occurrence researcher Capt. Alan Millbank told CHEK News connected Monday.

Tesla operator Hurmeet Tiwana told the quality outlet that it was "uncomfortable" seeing each the incidents of arson and vandalism, portion different driver, Richard Paterson, felt targeting chargers utilized by each time drivers was misdirected,.

"I bought the car for the efficiency, not for a governmental statement," helium told CHEK.

Vistin said portion constabulary enactment the close to peaceful and ineligible protest, those who "commit acts of unit and mischief volition look apprehension and transgression charges."

She said files successful each the Vancouver incidents stay open.