Teslas found vandalized with swastikas, profanity at San Diego County dealership
Mar 17, 2025
ENCINITAS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A Tesla dealership was vandalized Monday in Encinitas.
The incident occurred around 5 a.m. in the 1300 block of Encinitas Boulevard, Lt. Zheath Sanchez with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a news release Monday.
Authorities found multiple cars wi
th swastikas spray-painted on them, as well as several windows of the dealership building spray-painted with swastikas and profanity.
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No suspects have been identified; no arrests have been made.
The vandalism comes two days after a protest at the same Tesla dealership where community members rallied against federal funding cuts. Protesters could be seen holding signs with messages like “boycott Tesla” and “save social security.”
Alan Gin, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of San Diego, says no car company has seen such a dramatic swing in such a short time.
“A lot of people don’t like Elon Musk's activities and as a result Tesla sales have fallen all over the world,” Gin said.
Tesla owners who love their cars say they are in a tough spot.
“Solar powered, we thought we were doing a good thing, and now regret it, embarrassed, don’t know what to do,” said Erin Maffia, a Tesla owner.
The Encinitas Tesla dealership declined to comment on the vandalism.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in the case.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the San Diego County Sheriff's Office at 858-868-3200. To remain anonymous, call the Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
FOX 5/KUSI's Jaime Chambers contributed to this story. ...read more read less