Protesters affiliated with the climate group Last Generation Canada targeted a Tesla dealership in Montreal, Canada, on Wednesday, spraying paint on the exterior of the building. This comes amid a surge in vandalism cases against Tesla in the US and globally. The group claims that Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is “destroying democracies and spreading climate denial” and is urging Canada to “stand up” to him.
The incident in Montreal is part of a larger wave of protests and acts of vandalism targeting Tesla showrooms, fleets, and privately owned cars. In the US, dozens of protests have been held outside Tesla dealerships and factories. The company has also faced backlash over its association with US President Donald Trump, who has been a vocal critic of climate change and has imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, sparking a trade war.
Musk has attributed some of the vandalism to “left-wing organizations in America, funded by left-wing billionaires.” However, he has condemned the acts of violence, saying they are “insane and deeply wrong” and that Tesla does not deserve such treatment. The company has faced criticism for its role in the trade war between the US and Canada, as well as its ties to Trump.
The incident in Montreal is not an isolated one, as similar cases of vandalism have been reported globally. The scaling up of protests and acts of vandalism against Tesla highlights the growing tensions surrounding the company’s leadership and its perceived impact on the environment and global politics.