Tesla is facing an escalating brand challenge after vandals recently painted Nazi symbols and hate speech on a Supercharger station, the latest in a series of incidents that reflect growing public hostility toward the electric car maker.
The vandalism was reported by YouTube tech podcaster Quinn Nelson on Sunday, prompting Tesla's charging division to announce an immediate removal plan and promise to prosecute the perpetrators. "We will be suing for vandalism at Supercharging stations," Tesla wrote.
The incident follows a string of similar attacks, including the vandalism of a charging station in Massachusetts and the vandalism of a Cybertruck in Brooklyn.
The disruptions come as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stirred controversy over his role as head of the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) in the Trump administration, drawing widespread criticism for his aggressive reorganization and layoffs of U.S. government agencies.
Last week, prominent Tesla investor Ross Gerber said, "The Tesla brand is over," after seeing a Cybertruck painted with anti-Musk rhetoric, and announced plans to sell his Cybertruck.
The company faces increasing challenges in various markets. Protesters gathered outside Tesla showrooms across the country last week, and well-known singer Sheryl Crow publicly announced on Saturday that she was selling her Tesla, citing concerns about Musk's political alliances.