A 61-year-old Arizona woman named Susan was assaulted by an unidentified driver on Route 66 due to her Tesla car, an incident she claims was fueled by the vehicle's brand and its connections.
The Daily Mail reported that on March 18, Susan encountered a green car on Route 66 in Flagstaff, Arizona, which aggressively boxed in her Tesla. The male driver of the green car then exited his vehicle and approached Susan's car, initiating an unprovoked physical assault.
According to Susan, the situation escalated quickly. "I started to say, You cut me off, what's your problem, but I didn't know how much he heard me. He got out and started to punch me with a closed fist," she recounted.
In defense, Susan bit the attacker's hand, which led to his retreat back to the green car, driven away by an accomplice.
Following the incident, the Flagstaff police were able to trace and cite the driver of the green car. He is expected to appear in court the following Monday. This legal response marks a critical step in addressing assaults related to brand-associated hostility.
Susan suspects the motivation behind the attack was linked to her owning a Tesla. She expressed her frustration, saying, "I'm just appalled. I didn't buy my car for a political statement. I bought my car because it's fun to drive." Susan’s distress underscores a growing concern among Tesla owners who face unintended backlash.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of negative sentiment towards Teslas, which has seen a spike in both the U.S. and internationally. The increase in vandalism and direct attacks has coincided with political developments and Elon Musk’s expanded influence in public sectors.
Only two days later, another Tesla owner, Abigail Gill, experienced severe vandalism to her vehicle in Wichita, Kansas. While dining at an Olive Garden, her car suffered approximately $10,000 in damages, an attack also believed to be motivated by the association with Elon Musk.
The Kansas incident involved distinctive vandalism by a perpetrator dressed in Lilo and Stitch pajamas who left both sides of Abigail's vehicle marred. Thankfully, the Teslas’ built-in cameras recorded the attack, aiding in the investigation.
"Damaging a personal vehicle does not affect Elon Musk. It's not damaging who you're thinking it is," Abigail noted, highlighting the misdirected nature of such assaults.
She added, "It felt disappointing that this is happening in such a great country, a great state. For this to be happening in Kansas of all places, it's shocking," expressing her disbelief at the hostility.
The increase in hostility towards Tesla vehicles poses significant questions about societal responses to brand affiliations and the repercussions on individual security.
Susan and Abigail's cases reveal a troubling trend of targeting individuals based on the cars they drive, a movement that extends beyond mere vehicle preference to broader political and social implications.
The broader implications of these attacks stretch to societal values and the potential consequences of public figures' actions on private individuals.
Susan's final remark captures the gravity of the situation: "My politics have nothing to do with that. I'm ashamed of our society and what they are doing," pointing to a fading line between personal choices and political repercussions.