California is seeing a rise in incidents involving Tesla owners, with reports of harassment and intimidation targeting drivers of the electric vehicles. This pattern suggests growing public tension regarding Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk.
One group, self-styled as “Students Against Nazi Extremism” (SANE), has emerged as the primary source of the threats, targeting Tesla owners in four California cities.
The problem first arose when Tesla owners across Northern California’s Humboldt County began receiving threatening messages left on their vehicles. The messages, barely coded, offered a stark choice: sell or trade their Teslas by February 12, or “open season” on their vehicles would ensue.Â
The threats have been followed by further threatening acts, with some owners reporting bricks left on their vehicles with threatening messages.
Attacks on Tesla Vehicles Rise Across California and Beyond
SANE has targeted the four California cities of Arcata, Rohnert Park, Seaside, and Hayward specifically as its target cities. The avowed aim of the group is straightforward – they aim to make ownership of the Tesla so socially and practically undesirable that it devalues the vehicles and discourages buyers.Â
Their effort appears politically motivated, with the group openly mocking Elon Musk’s perceived political stance and public remarks.
Law enforcement officials across the targeted cities have acted quickly in response to the threats. The Seaside Police Department, in particular, has increased security around Tesla dealerships and increased patrols in areas where Tesla owners would be exposed. Despite the statewide scope of the threats, Hayward and Seaside officials indicate that no actual cases of vandalism have been reported within their jurisdictions to date.
This recent wave of threats is just one part of a trend of similar attacks on Tesla vehicles across the country. In Portland, a Tesla Model Y owner was sent a warning letter by a concerned neighbor over potential vandalism as a result of Musk’s politics.Â
More aggressively, Florida saw a wave of attacks on Tesla Cybertrucks in June 2024, with vehicles spray-painted, windows smashed, and tires slit.
Vandalism and Threats Against Tesla Owners
The reasons behind these acts are multifaceted and nuanced. While some attacks are easily linked to dislike of Musk’s political rhetoric and business practices, others are potentially motivated by more ambient societal tensions over technological disruption and economic inequality. The attacks on Tesla vehicles have become a metaphor for deeper cultural and political fault lines in American society.
The impact on Tesla owners has been real. Some have reported feeling threatened or considering selling their vehicles to stay under the radar. A Tesla dealership with three separate incidents of vandalism in ten days in February 2025 is a stark reminder of the real-world effects of these threats.
Security professionals and community leaders are calling for a measured response to these threats. While acknowledging the right to peaceful protest and expression of political opinion, they point out that vandalism and threats of violence cross a line that undermines civil discourse and public safety.
The case raises profound questions about the intersection of consumer choice, political expression, and public safety. As electric vehicles become more common on American roads, the targeting of specific brands based on the political views of their leadership could establish a problematic precedent for consumer harassment.
Local officials are keeping a close eye on the situation, asking Tesla owners to report any suspicious behavior while taking regular security measures. Community leaders are also asking for dialogue between various groups to diffuse underlying tensions without threats or violence.
As we observe this situation unfold further, we are reminded that cars – once mere transports – have become potent symbols in America’s continuing cultural and political struggles. The resolution of these tensions could have far-reaching implications beyond the immediate safety of Tesla owners, perhaps shaping how Americans navigate political differences in an increasingly polarized nation.
