Tesla charging stations set on hearth as backlash in opposition to Elon Musk intensifies

Tesla charging stations have been set on hearth within the US state of Massachusetts as a backlash in opposition to Elon Musk grows.

Demonstrators have been protesting in opposition to his shut ties to Donald Trump and embrace of far-right politicians all over the world.

Officers and firefighters rushed to The Level Buying Middle close to Boston and located the charging stations “engulfed in flames and heavy, darkish smoke”.

Police mentioned seven charging stations had been broken and the “hearth seems to have been deliberately set”, however no accidents had been reported.

Mr Musk has overseen the firing of 1000’s of presidency staff in current weeks.

The world’s richest man and his firms have been focused since he made what regarded like a Nazi salute at Mr Trump’s inauguration, with analysts saying Tesla’s automotive gross sales have fallen.

Tesla vehicles have been vandalised – and a girl was arrested after being accused of making an attempt to burn down a Tesla dealership in Colorado.

Some house owners have put stickers on their vehicles saying: “I purchased it earlier than Elon went nuts.”

Mr Musk has additionally confronted a backlash in Europe, the place he has urged supporters of a German far-right get together to transfer past their “previous guilt”, referred to as for the discharge of jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson, and described Sir Keir Starmer as an “evil tyrant”.

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A suspected arson assault precipitated an influence outage and led to manufacturing being halted at a Tesla plant within the German state of Brandenburg, whereas a picture of Musk making a straight-armed salute was additionally projected on a Tesla manufacturing unit exterior Berlin.

In London a poster at a bus cease featured an identical picture and branded Teslas as “the swasticar”.

Musk’s political activism impacting gross sales

Tesla noticed its European gross sales figures drop by 45% in January, in response to analysis agency Jato Dynamics, with gross sales in Germany and France down by about 60%.

Senior analyst Felipe Munoz instructed Sky Information “it is onerous to inform precisely how a lot his activism is impacting gross sales” – however mentioned it was clear his “lively function in politics” was “having an affect” on the corporate.

Among the decline could also be linked to potential consumers holding off shopping for the most recent model of Tesla’s bestseller, the Mannequin Y, with a brand new model attributable to be launched later this 12 months.

However Mr Munoz mentioned gross sales of the Mannequin 3 had seen a “worrying” drop regardless of there being no cause for consumers to attend.

Democrats protest in Congress with ‘Musk steals’ indicators

In a prolonged deal with to Congress on Tuesday, Mr Trump praised Mr Musk’s work, prompting two standing ovations from Republicans within the chamber.

The president made exaggerated claims about alleged authorities abuse Mr Musk and his crew had uncovered – prompting Democrats to wave indicators studying “false” and “Musk steals”.

Since Mr Trump’s inauguration, Tesla’s inventory has fallen by 37% – representing a lack of $550bn (£429bn).

Mr Munoz, mentioned the long-term affect of the anger with Mr Musk could also be simpler to see in just a few months.

He added: “A lot of the drivers care in regards to the automotive, they do not care about what the supervisor or proprietor of the corporate thinks, so long as their automotive would not break.”