Tesla Showroom Targeted by ‘Suspicious Device’ as Elon Musk Boycott Intensifies

• Protests against Elon Musk and Tesla are intensifying across the U.S.
• Authorities have found “incendiary” devices in a Tesla showroom in Austin.
• Musk’s electric vehicle firm has suffered a significant fall in share price.

Authorities found “incendiary” devices in a Tesla showroom in the U.S. as the protests against Elon Musk and his electric vehicle company continue.

In an attempt to quell the violent boycott, the FBI has announced a task force to fight back against what it is calling “domestic terrorism.”

The move comes as Tesla’s sales are dramatically declining, with some attributing the downturn to Musk’s political associations.

Tesla Showroom Targeted

On Monday, March 24, authorities found “incendiary” devices inside a Tesla showroom in Austin.

Local police responded to the dealership in the morning after receiving a report of a suspicious “abandoned hazardous” item.

“When officers arrived on scene, they located suspicious devices and called the APD Bomb Squad to investigate,” Austin police said in a statement shared with CBS Austin .

“The devices, which were determined to be incendiary, were taken into police custody without incident,” Austin police added.

FBI Investigation

On Monday, the FBI announced it had launched a multiagency task force to investigate the rise in domestic terrorism incidents involving attacks on Tesla vehicles and dealerships.

Ben Williamson, the FBI’s director of public affairs, confirmed the move on X, claiming it would “crack down on violent Tesla attacks.”

The FBI is currently reviewing CCTV and some mobile phone locations of people thought to be involved in the attacks, the New York Post reported .

“These attacks clearly meet the FBI’s established definition of domestic terrorism,” Rob Chadwick, a former FBI supervisory special agent, told the publication.

Tesla Protests Intensify

Beyond the Austin showroom, protests against Musk and Tesla have intensified with incidents occurring at Tesla dealerships and charging stations across the U.S.

In Colorado earlier this month, a woman was arrested for attacking a Tesla dealership with an incendiary device.

Two more dealerships have also been targeted with gunshots, according to the New York Post .

Protests outside Tesla showrooms began at the beginning of March and have taken place every week since.

Tesla Owners Doxed

Tesla owners have been targeted by a website that reportedly provides data on Tesla drivers throughout the U.S.

The website, named Dogequest, displays the information on an interactive map, with an image of a Molotov cocktail as the cursor.

According to 404 Media, which first reported the story, the operators said they would remove Tesla owners’ personal information if they could prove they had sold their vehicles.

The website explains, under the heading “I want my information removed,” that “Absolutely! Just provide us with proof that you’ve sold your Tesla.”

Another site section reads, “Is DOGEQUEST a protest platform?”

The operators state: “If you’re on the hunt for a Tesla to unleash your artistic flair with a spray can, just step outside — no map needed! At DOGEQUEST, we believe in empowering creative expressions of protest that you can execute from the comfort of your own home.”

The website has also published the unverified personal details of employees belonging to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Tesla Sales Fall

Tesla’s sales in Europe fell by approximately 50% in January compared to the previous year

On Wednesday, March 12, after trading hours, Tesla had lost almost 49% of its market cap from December.

“We struggle to think of anything analogous in the history of the automotive industry, in which a brand has lost so much value so quickly,” JPMorgan analysts wrote in a note to clients.

In an attempt to reverse declining sales, Tesla unveiled a new budget model which will cost 20% less to produce than its earlier Model Y version, Reuters reported .

The car, which will launch in 2026, will primarily be sold in China to defend its market share in the country, following major competition from rival BYD.