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Next you'll tell me that combustion engines don't combust without liberal anger to drive the piston.
Windshield washer fluid is just liberal tears, after all.
Possible, yes, even probable given the state of protest against the company. (Arson is a felony, but if we're now going to recategorize arson as terrorism, that's a big can of worms to open)

However, it's not like Teslas haven't had the reputation for being fire risks for years.

https://medium.com/@davidsehyeonbaek/why-tesla-evs-catch-fir...

yes indeed. and the article provides no evidence of this being arson. it might very well be either another battery fire as you say or insurance fraud (South Italy after all)
It seems as though arson of property used in interstate commerce is terrorism to the extent it seeks to influence the conduct of government by intimidation for some time now; see 18 U.S.C. 113B section 2332b(g) if it transcends national boundaries.
That's more probable, but that's also the reaction that should compel us to consider the possibility that we're looking at an insurance scam. If I owned a Tesla dealership in a country that was seeing sales drop the way they are, and if I didn't have ethics, I'd be thinking about the potential to get rid of unsalable backstock at no charge.
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Well considering that sales of Tesla are down around 40% in Europe, and as much as 70% in some countries, it's pretty clear there's dissatisfaction with the company.
The big seller in Europe is the Model Y. In fact the Model Y was Europe's best-selling car in 2023. https://www.motor1.com/news/705284/tesla-model-y-best-sellin...

Sales were naturally going to be down dramatically in the months before a major refresh.

Let's wait until we see the sales figures post-refresh before we jump to conclusions on "dissatisfaction with the company"

the cars might still not drive themselves, but the jokes do write themselves. and they're fire.
This is exactly what happens when the media and left constantly call the opposition a threat to democracy, nazi's, and fascist. They are directly responsible and knowingly are fueling terrorist activity.
Heil damage. It's considered an act of god.
The opposition is a threat to democracy, nazis and fascists.

Maybe be more concerned about the people trying to purge the US of political dissidents and wrongthink, dismantle the republic and crater the economy than the people setting some ugly, barely functional garbage cars on fire.

So you condone this activity? Typical, sitting on a pedestal of false moral and intellectual superiority.
I don't condone it. I think vandalism is a waste of effort, a case of mistaking catharsis for praxis. But I certainly get it.

I just find the overwrought outrage to be absurd, given the context.

I can show you a dozen conveniently freeze-framed images of prominent Democrats raising their arm in supposed "Nazi salutes".

Calling Musk a Nazi is just Godwin's Law ad absurdium.

I mean, Musk also has a well-documented and public history of supporting and spreading white supremacist propaganda, so he's a Nazi regardless of the salute, which was still very much a Nazi salute.
> I can show you a dozen conveniently freeze-framed images of prominent Democrats raising their arm in supposed "Nazi salutes".

...and I can show you a video of Elon Musk doing a supposed Nazi salute:

https://youtu.be/-VfYjPzj1Xw?t=15

This is from PBS, no more, no less...

I didn't see where the article stated what started the fire.
I see you quote Charlie Munger in your HN profile. I myself love his writings. Did you perchance see the video clip of his views on Elon?
There's no justification for this kind of destruction, but the Nazi, fascist and threat to democracy labels have been earned.

Beyond that, they should investigate all possibilities, but Teslas have also been known to explode from time to time. Plenty of videos online of CCTV capturing Teslas "spontaneously" going up in flames. Tesla themselves even discourage charging the car in your home garage because of the potential risk.

Teslas owner did a literal nazi salute, so it's not a particular stretch to call them any of those things.