Tesla showroom is torched in arson attack in France with £550,000 of cars destroyed amid growing fury in Europe over Elon Musk's EU 'meddling' and Trump Ukraine funding row

A Tesla dealership in southern France went up in flames during a suspected arson attack as backlash against Elon Musk's EU 'meddling' and backing of Donald Trump intensifies across Europe.

The Tesla showroom in was set ablaze in the early hours of Monday, destroying 12 vehicles worth a staggering £550,000 in what authorities are treating as a deliberate attack.

The fire broke out around 3:15am at the dealership in Plaisance-du-Touch, near Toulouse, according to the local prosecutor's office. 

Officials confirmed they have launched an investigation into 'the destruction and damage of property belonging to others by dangerous means.'

The suspected arson comes amid escalating tensions in Europe over Elon Musk's perceived interference in EU affairs and his association with US President Donald Trump, particularly concerning the contentious issue of US military aid to Ukraine.

European leaders have expressed growing frustration with Musk's political involvement, especially following his public support for Trump and critical remarks about EU policies. 

French President Emmanuel Macron, without naming Musk directly, last month highlighted the challenges posed by influential figures undermining European democratic institutions. 

'Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany,' Macron told French ambassadors gathered in Paris.

France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, called on the European Union to take firmer action against Musk's use of his social platform, alleging that he was 'interfering' in European countries' domestic politics. 

Macron's comments came after Musk also openly supported right-wing, eurosceptic parties, including Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD), prompting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to label the billionaire's endorsements as 'really disgusting.'

The suspected act of protests also comes after a Norwegian fuel giant vowed not to deliver a litre more to US warships over Trump's recent showdown with Zelensky.

Gunnar Gran, chief executive of Haltbakk Bunkers, told Norwegian maritime news outlet Kystens Næringsliv: 'Not a litre will be delivered [to US ships] until Trump is finished.. We run a private company and choose our customers!'

He went on to explain that his company stopped supplying Russian clients following the invasion of Ukraine - a decision that hurt revenue streams but remained in line with company values.

'We lost a lot of revenue. But we have a moral compass. Now the United States is excluded based on their behaviour towards the Ukrainians,' Gran said.

'We support Ukraine. We have many Ukrainian employees, and we know how terribly this war affects them and their families.'

The convergence of these events has fueled public outrage across Europe, manifesting in acts of vandalism against Tesla properties and a decline in the company's sales in key European markets. 

In France, Tesla's sales plummeted by 45 per cent in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year. 

The suspected arson attack in France is part of a broader pattern of hostility towards Tesla. 

In recent weeks, Tesla stores have been targeted by vandals and arsonists across two continents, prompting investigations by authorities, including the FBI.

Furthermore, Musk's involvement in the geopolitical arena has raised eyebrows. 

His reported threats to withdraw Starlink services from Ukraine have led the European Commission to explore alternative satellite communication options for Kyiv.

Compounding the situation, in January, Trump appointed Musk as the head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasking him with reducing federal spending.

One of Musk's initial actions was advocating for a 90-day freeze on all foreign aid, directly impacting the US Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Musk described USAID as a 'viper's nest of radical-Left Marxists who hate America,' and his team reportedly accessed classified databases within the agency.

This move has raised concerns about the future of USAID-funded projects, including those involving Musk’s own company, Starlink, which received at least $1million from USAID over the past four years to provide internet access in war zones and developing countries. 

President Trump recently suspended all US military aid to Ukraine, citing a need to reassess commitments, a move that has unsettled NATO allies and emboldened Russia.

Musk's involvement in DOGE has fueled a wave of anti-Tesla demonstrations, with activists staging protests outside Tesla dealerships across the US and Europe. 

Protesters have vowed to boycott Tesla in a bid to hurt the company financially.

'We can get back at Elon,' said Nathan Phillips, a 58-year-old environmental activist from Massachusetts, during a protest in Boston.

'We can impose direct economic damage on Tesla by showing up at showrooms everywhere, boycotting Tesla, and telling everyone else to get out, sell your stocks, sell your Teslas,' he told reporters.

The movement, dubbed 'Tesla Takedown,' has seen over 50 demonstrations across the US in cities including New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tucson, and Palo Alto - the home of Tesla's headquarters. 

Protests have also been reported in Spain, Portugal, and the UK.

Some Tesla owners have reported their cars being vandalised, with swastikas spray-painted onto vehicles in what Jewish groups fear is a disturbing rise in anti-Semitism.

Musk, who has frequently clashed with critics online, has dismissed the backlash, claiming that Tesla's brand and reputation remain strong despite the controversy.

Despite the growing unrest, the White House defended Musk and Trump, making it clear that the protests would not derail their plans.

'Protests will not deter President Trump and Musk from delivering on the promise to establish DOGE and make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers across the country,' spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement.    

As investigations into the suspected arson attack continue, the incident underscores the growing backlash against Musk's political engagements and their potential repercussions on his business ventures in Europe.

Authorities have not yet linked the fire to the wider protests, but the timing has raised suspicions that Tesla could be a growing target for political activism and vandalism.