Multiple incendiary devices were discovered inside a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas on Monday morning, marking the latest in a series of incidents targeting Elon Musk’s company across the country.
Officers with the Austin Police Department responded to a “Found/Abandoned Hazardous call” at approximately 8:04 AM at the Tesla dealership located at 12845 N. US 183 Highway, authorities said. After identifying multiple suspicious devices inside the showroom, police called in the department’s Bomb Squad for assistance.
The FBI is now assisting local authorities with the investigation. Police have not yet identified suspects or determined when the devices were planted at the location.
The Austin incident comes as Tesla facilities nationwide have faced a wave of vandalism and attacks in recent weeks. According to reports, at least 10 Tesla dealerships, charging stations, and facilities have been targeted since Musk, the company’s CEO, was appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration.
Recent incidents include:
- A man arrested for throwing approximately eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla showroom in Salem, Oregon
- A South Carolina man arrested after allegedly writing profane graffiti against Trump and his administration on Tesla charging stations before setting them on fire
- A woman charged in Colorado for attacking Tesla vehicles with Molotov cocktails and writing “Nazi cars” at a showroom in Loveland
- Four Cybertrucks set ablaze at a Tesla lot in Seattle, Washington
- Multiple Tesla vehicles burned at a service center in Las Vegas, where the word “resist” was spray-painted across the building’s entrance
Musk has characterized these attacks as “coordinated” and politically motivated.
“It’s really come as quite a shock to me that there is this level of real hatred and violence from the left,” Musk told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “They’re burning down cars. They’re firebombing dealerships. They’re firing bullets into dealerships. They’re just smashing up Teslas.”
President Donald Trump has taken a strong stance on the incidents, labeling them as “domestic terrorism” and suggesting harsh punishments for those responsible.
“I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla,” Trump said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that three people have been arrested in recent weeks in connection with various attacks on Tesla properties. The Justice Department has prioritized these cases, and suspects face serious federal charges.
The incidents have occurred as Musk implements significant cuts to federal spending and budgets in his role at DOGE, which has generated controversy among government employees and their supporters.
Tesla has not issued an official statement regarding the Austin incident or the broader pattern of attacks on its facilities. Authorities continue to investigate whether the devices found in Austin were connected to previous incidents targeting the company.