It’s no secret that Tesla has become something of a cultural lightning rod, whether for its tech, its CEO, or the political baggage that now seems welded to its aluminum panels. And in the current climate, even scratching a Tesla could apparently land you in serious legal territory, at least in Washington, D.C., where the politics are as tangled as the city’s traffic circles.

Read: Trump Vows To Buy A Tesla After ‘Radical Left Lunatics’ Boycott Brand

Elon Musk and Tesla have grown so closely associated with the Trump-era political ecosystem that some officials in the nation’s capital are reportedly considering whether vandalism against the brand could be prosecuted as a hate crime. D.C. has long been a Democratic stronghold, but Mayor Muriel Bowser appears to be making moves in response to mounting pressure from the Trump administration, particularly after Trump’s recent threat to assert control over the District.

Last week, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police issued a press release announcing they are searching for two suspects who allegedly defaced Tesla vehicles in the district. According to the authorities, they “wrote political hate speech on to the victims’ Tesla vehicles then fled the scene.” The exterior cameras of the cars caught clear images of both suspects, although they were wearing sunglasses.

Vandalism, But Make It Political

Unlike some incidents elsewhere in the country, the Teslas weren’t torched, overturned, or otherwise wrecked. The damage was cosmetic, limited to what amounts to political graffiti. What’s perhaps the strangest thing about the whole situation is that much of the “hate speech” graffiti on the cars wasn’t even that dramatic.

According to Politico, which reviewed police reports, several sarcastic messages were left on the Teslas. These included statements like “Let’s do away with the administrative state! Buy a tesla!” while another said, “Go Doge I support Musk killing the dept of education.”

Another read, “I like what Musk is doing,” while one stated, “I Love Musk and hate the Fed Gov.t.” Possibly the most provocative was: “Ask me about my support of Nazis.” It’s a grab bag of chaotic energy, part satire, part performance art, part political Rorschach test.

Washington D.C. is one of just a few jurisdictions that describe “political affiliation,” with race, sex, and religion as categories of bias, meaning locals cannot discriminate against someone for being a Democrat or Republican. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t shun someone for their opinion.

“I would have a hard time seeing how anti-Elon Musk graffiti would constitute political affiliation discrimination,” Arizona State University law professor Michael Selmi said. “The real issue is there’s very little case law interpreting political affiliation in D.C. or in the few other jurisdictions that include it.”

Anyone who scrawls a swastika on a Tesla has obviously committed a hate crime https://t.co/EJFkYxDHrV

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2025

Another Tesla Cybertruck has been wrecked, and this time it’s not because it’s been attacked by vandals angry at the automaker’s CEO Elon Musk, or due to some alleged failure of the driver-assist systems. Instead, a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen was the culprit after its driver reportedly suffered a medical emergency, plowing into no fewer than seven vehicles. The Cybertruck took the worst of it, with its bed ripped clean off in the chaos.

Footage and images from the scene show a dark-colored Cybertruck brandishing promotional graphics for Keane Landscaping (they say there’s no such thing as bad publicity, right?) cut in half in the road outside the Dallas Cowboys HQ.

Related: Someone Egged A Cybertruck And Wiped Dog Poop On It

The front end of the truck appears untouched, but everything behind the rear seats is gone, including the bed, frame, and the suspension, motor, and wheels, which can all be seen lying several feet away. Of the eight vehicles involved in the smash, the Cybertruck definitely came off worst, but that doesn’t mean the other cars which, like the Tesla, were all parked and unoccupied, didn’t take some serious hits.

A Ford Mustang, F-series truck, Hyundai Santa Fe, Tesla sedan, and others received major panel damage, but spare a thought for the Mercedes G-wagon, which was given such a smack it was flipped onto its roof and can be seen being righted in CBS’s video.

Police say the accident in Frisco, Texas, was the result of the Mercedes G-Wagen driver suffering a medical episode while behind the wheel last Friday, driving at the intersection of Avenue of the Champions and Cowboys Way. The driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to news reports, and won’t be charged with any driving offenses.

Looking at the amount of damage caused, he must have really hoofed that right pedal, with disastrous, but thankfully not fatal consequences. We imagine that in the future, car safety systems might be able to spot and prevent accidents like this, but until that happens, you might want to stay clear of powerful trucks with super-fast acceleration and curb weights flirting with the 6,000-pound mark, especially if you’re on foot.

Image credit: Dianne Everett/CBS News

Modern solar panels are vastly more efficient than those 20 or 30 years ago, but they’re still prevented from operating at peak performance 24/7 by bad weather and nighttime darkness. Just imagine if you could collect all that solar energy uninterrupted from space. Well, China thinks it can.

Chinese scientists plan to build a huge solar power station that will sit more than 20,000 miles (32,000 km) above the surface of the Earth, measuring around 0.6 miles (1 km) across when fully built. In addition to getting access to constant sunlight, space-based solar stations enjoy energy density that’s 10 times greater than what you might get from the roof-mounted solar panels on your house because the sunlight in space is that much more intense.

More: Electric Fiat 500 Drives At Highway Speeds Without Running Down The Battery Thanks to Inductive Charging

Wondering how all those lovely clean Watts are pumped back to Earth? It’s done by converting the electricity into microwave radiation, which is then beamed to a fixed antenna on terra firma, Popular Mechanics explains. And the man behind the technology says it’s no, er, flight of fancy.

“We are working on this project now,” Long Lehao, a rocket scientist and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), told SMCP. “It is as significant as moving the Three Gorges Dam to a geostationary orbit 36,000km (22,370 miles) above the Earth.”

Three Gorges Dam on Yangtze River (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Big Ambitions, Even Bigger Engineering

China’s Three Gorges Dam (pictured above) is a hydroelectric power station that opened in 2012 and whose 100 billion kWh annual power generation capacity makes the Hoover Dam look like a dripping tap. Long claims the energy collected in one year from the space station would be “equivalent to the total amount of oil that can be extracted from the Earth.”

More: World’s First Permanently Electrified Road For EV Charging On The Move

The Three Gorges was such a mammoth project that it took 18 years to complete, and there would be no quick turnaround on the solar space station project, either. The massively complex build process required to get all of the solar station’s parts into orbit – including developing a heavy-lift rocket for the job – means it’ll be years before it’s powering our lights and electric cars.

But if it works? It could light up cities, power EVs, and quietly reshape how we think about renewable energy—without ever casting a shadow.

Opening image is a rendering

While the Tesla Cybertruck seems to be a regular target for ridicule, one example was recently able to tow out a Ford F-150 that got stuck in the snow somewhere in Canada. Although there’s a chance that the whole thing was staged, the clip does show that with a good set of rubber, the truck can put all of its electric power to good use.

Watch: Cybertruck Stuck On Ping Pong Mode In Flowing River

These videos, shared on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum, were filmed by a group of friends who were out enjoying some snow-filled fun in both the Tesla and a Ford F-150. For reasons that are still unclear, the driver of the F-150 seemed to intentionally reverse into a snowbank just off the side of the road—promptly getting stuck, of course. Classic move.

Now, we could all roll our eyes and assume this whole thing was set up—perhaps the F-150 was driven into the snow just for the Tesla to save the day. But regardless of the setup, the video shows one thing: the Cybertruck can actually get things done when it’s not stuck itself.

Driving on snow can be difficult for any road-going vehicle, but this Cybertruck appears to have been aided by the fact that it rocks a set of Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires, providing it with better traction than the standard rubber. We’re not sure if it’s a dual-motor AWD version or a tri-motor Cyberbeast, but it apparently had more than enough power to pull out the Ford with ease.

Watch: The Cybertruck Might Be Defeated By Sand, But It Can Rock Crawl

Despite the occasional viral mishap, the Cybertruck’s electric motors and advanced electronics can be helpful in certain off-roading situations. For example, the Tesla has no trouble storming through some of the most difficult and famous rock-crawling areas in the United States, including ‘Hell’s Revenge’ and the ‘Hot Tub’ in Moab, Utah.  

Well, it was inevitable. The first crashed 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona, or at least the first one we know about since customers started getting their hands on them, has made its appearance online. And because the universe has a sense of humor, it’s already up for sale. If you’re one of those people who loves a good gamble and prefers your vehicles with a touch of “character,” this is your lucky day.

More: Someone Already Crashed A 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper After Only 197 Miles

This particular wreck is a 2024 Charger Daytona R/T, which is the base model starting at $59,595, before you start adding options like the $595 Demonic Red seats this one comes with, or deducting the sweet discounts running up to $21,000 some dealers are offering just to move these things off the lot.

Being an R/T, it features a 93.9-kWh nickel-cobalt-aluminum battery powering front and rear motors, delivering up to 496 horsepower and a solid 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 4.7 seconds.

What Happened to This Daytona?

Photos IAAI

Now, onto the important stuff—the damage. This one didn’t make it past its first 682 miles (just under 1,100 km) before finding its match. From what we can gather, it either had a mild run-in with another car or maybe just collided with a stationary object. Who can really say?

While the front-end damage doesn’t seem catastrophic at first glance, it was enough to trigger the driver’s airbag, which we all know is usually the kiss of death for a car’s viability in the eyes of an insurance company. So, the insurance folks did what they do best and decided to write it off and call it a day.

More: Dodge Charger Rumored To Get Hemi V8 Power In 2026

On the outside, the damage on the electric Dodge seems pretty concentrated at the front: bumper, LED lights, and hood all took a hit. What lies beneath the sheet metal? Well, your guess is as good as ours. It’s entirely possible there’s more hidden damage under the surface, but for the right price, a skilled repair shop or even someone with some mechanical know-how might be able to bring this Charger Daytona back to life.

Feeling Lucky?

If you’re feeling adventurous and willing to take the risk the insurance company wasn’t, this Charger Daytona R/T is now up for auction at IAAI’s Texas division. You can check out the listing here before it hits the block in a few days. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one to take on this crashed Daytona and give it a second chance for a price that won’t make you cry.

Photos IAAI

Tesla has made it clear that it’s taking a firm stance against vandalism at its facilities across the United States and it’s rolling out a new strategy: activating Sentry Mode on all cars at its showrooms. This move comes as incidents of targeted attacks on Tesla vehicles have been escalating, both in the States and internationally. With this added layer of surveillance, the company hopes to catch troublemakers in the act.

More: US Attorney General Goes After Tesla Attackers, 3 People Face Up To 20 Years In Prison

Just yesterday, a well-known Tesla investor and supporter suggested that the company should step up security by employing 24-hour security guards at all of its showrooms and service centers across the U.S. and Canada—at least until things calm down. Elon Musk quickly responded, announcing that Tesla had “ramped up security” and enabled Sentry Mode on all vehicles at its locations.

The Benefits of Sentry Mode

While he avoided elaborating on what additional security measures Tesla is taking, activating Sentry Mode seems like a smart move. This system uses the exterior cameras found on all Tesla models to continuously record what’s happening around the vehicle. It’s proven hugely beneficial for owners of the years, catching vandals and thieves in plain view. Anyone heading to a Tesla site with the intention of damaging cars could be unknowingly filmed in the act.

However, in true Musk fashion, the public announcement may have been a double-edged sword. Now that vandals know what Tesla is up to, they might take precautions, like covering their faces to avoid being identified. Perhaps it would’ve been more effective to keep this security change under wraps until the system caught a few culprits.

Tesla has ramped up security and activated Sentry Mode on all vehicles at stores https://t.co/3HwUgE8ZoF

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 20, 2025

While Sentry Mode can certainly be a deterrent, it’s not without its flaws. One of the primary concerns is the system’s impact on battery life. Tesla has never officially released figures on how much battery is consumed by Sentry Mode, but independent tests suggest it could drain between 10-15% of the battery each day. This means that Tesla will need to ensure that the vehicles in their care are regularly charged, especially if the goal is to keep the security system running round-the-clock.

Read: Tesla Working To Stop Sentry Mode Depleting EVs’ Batteries

Fortunately, Tesla recently introduced an update that reportedly reduces the battery drain by about 40%, which could help alleviate some of the strain on its service centers to keep cars charged.

The announcement of this new measure follows an incident in Hamilton, Ontario, where over 80 Tesla vehicles were damaged at a dealership. Reports say that the cars were scratched and had their tires punctured, further highlighting the increasing need for security at Tesla locations.

In some ways, The Tesla Cybertruck is a marvel of engineering but in others, it’s also one with quite a few flaws Some owners are now reporting one we’ve not seen before: the front panel of their truck can just, well, fall off. And no, it’s not because some mischievous gremlins decided to make a run for it—it’s because the panels apparently aren’t sticky enough.

This isn’t the first time a panel has decided it wants to make a dramatic exit from the Cybertruck. In fact, the boomerang-shaped panel above the doors has a habit of detaching itself, so Tesla recalled every single Cybertruck to apply a more aggressive adhesive, along with a stud and a nut, to keep things in place. What’s surprising here is that the front panel is also popping off for some owners.

More: Tesla Recalls Every Single Cybertruck Over Stainless Steel Trims Falling Off

One owner took to TikTok to document the state of their truck. After leaving it for an unspecified amount of time, they returned to find the panel was only held on by the driver’s side. The rest of the panel was bowed out and completely detached from the truck, leaving the front bumper panel nearly fully exposed.

Buy a pack of glue, said the owner in a sarcastic way. Well, we think it was sarcastic. It wouldn’t be the strangest fix for a Tesla we’ve heard of, even from the automaker itself. In fact, it seems as though these panel issues are the reason so many owners are complaining about delivery delays. Tesla just released a full-scale recall of all Cybertrucks for panels that fall off.

@olgag.87

Left my comments, was not translating him, but he says similar things and even more funny things #sybertruck #elonmusk #fypシ #car

♬ original sound – OlgaG

After buyer one reported the situation on CybertruckOwners, several others popped in with similar stories. “My message said ‘factory hold that must be addressed with our service team before delivery’,” said one. “I was told “containment does not have a correction at this time (recall),” And that 1-2wks is general time frame,” said another.

Their complaints come from all over the place too. Some are in South Carolina, others are in California, and at least one says he has this issue in Canada.

Clearly, it’s a widespread problem even if it’s not the same exact issue for all trucks. Hopefully, Tesla can get this situation sorted out. It’s tough to call this truck ready for Mars… or even Earth, when the panels just fall off on their own. 

Yet another Cybertruck owner joins the Musked Club!

In the 1970s-’90s, GM factory workers loathed assembling their poorly designed cars — and despised their management — so they would leave off vital nuts and bolts and parts — is that what’s happening at Tesla now? 😝 https://t.co/IOZLSSxnl1 pic.twitter.com/BaiPmTc8OH

— Facts Chaser 🌎 🤦🏻‍♂️ (@Factschaser) May 9, 2024

Screenshot TikTok

Extinguishing a fire in an electric vehicle is not your average firefighting job. It’s much trickier than putting out a blaze in a traditional combustion engine car, often requiring huge amounts of water—or, in some cases, submerging the whole car in a massive water tank.

Earlier this week, fire crews in Granite Falls, Washington, faced this exact challenge, but with a twist: they used a specially designed fire blanket to tackle the EV fire.

According to Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue, an EV caught fire while driving on SR-92 early Monday morning. All vehicles used by local fire crews carry a special EV blanket for a situation like this. To quell the flames, the blanket is placed over the car while the battery pack is doused in water.

Read: Tesla Under Siege As Multiple EVs Set On Fire And Vandalized Across The US In One Day

EV fires generate tremendous amounts of heat and, unlike combustion-powered cars, can burn without oxygen. There have also been plenty of cases of EVs reigniting days or even weeks after the initial thermal event. To reduce the risk, local fire crews followed the flatbed transporting the EV to a local impound lot for storage.

The exact make and model of the EV involved in this incident has not been revealed. However, Granite Falls Fire made it clear on their Facebook page that the fire was not caused by an impact.

Are EV Fires Really That Common?

While EV fires often make headlines, the numbers tell a different story. According to data from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, there are about 25 fires for every 100,000 EVs sold in the U.S. That sounds concerning until you compare it to the 1,530 fires per 100,000 for gas-powered cars. So, despite the attention they grab, EV fires are still much rarer than those in traditional vehicles.

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A post shared by Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue (@snoregionalfire)

Photo Snoregionalfire

The number of attacks on Tesla cars and company facilities across the United States shows no sign of slowing down. In the span of just 24 hours, the EV brand has been targeted in cities like Las Vegas, Kansas City, San Diego, and more. These incidents come at a time when Tesla’s stock price is in freefall, and Elon Musk continues to stir controversy and make headlines.

One of the most significant attacks happened in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday. According to local police officials, a still-unidentified individual threw several Molotov cocktails and fired shots into a line of Teslas parked at one of the company’s collision centers.

Read: Tesla Owners Brace For Soaring Insurance Costs And Even Bans As EV Attacks Escalate

Authorities say the attack took place around 2:45 a.m., with the suspect wearing all-black attire. By the time police arrived, two Teslas were fully engulfed in flames. Security footage from the scene captured the vehicles burning. In addition to the arson, the suspect spray-painted the word ‘resist’ on the facility’s front doors, leading authorities to label the attack as “targeted” and possibly driven by a “political agenda”.

This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong.

Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks. https://t.co/Fh1rcfsJPh

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 18, 2025

Elon Musk quickly addressed the violence on X (formerly Twitter), condemning the attack in no uncertain terms: “This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong. Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks.”

Kansas Attacks

Meanwhile, in Kansas City, Missouri, two Cybertrucks were set ablaze at a local Tesla dealership on Monday. A local police officer first noted one of the Cybertrucks on fire, and while local fire crews responded to the scene, they weren’t quick enough to avoid a second Cybertruck catching fire. Both EVs suffered extensive damage and are likely not repairable

Local authorities, including the Bomb and Arson Unit, were quickly joined by the FBI and ATF to investigate the incident, reports KMBC.

Vandals Strike Illinois And California

The vandalism isn’t confined to arson. In Buffalo Grove, Illinois, a Tesla dealership was targeted earlier this week, though no vehicles were harmed. Instead, a vandal painted disparaging remarks about President Trump and Elon Musk on the windows. They added that “Trans rights are human rights.” In this case, police have arrested a woman in connection with the vandalism, and she is facing criminal damage to property and trespassing charges, ABC7 reports.

The attacks don’t stop there. Further west, in Encinitas, California, a Tesla location was defaced with swastikas and profanity sprayed on both cars and dealership windows. The police have yet to make any arrests or identify suspects in this case.

Screenshot via Las Vegas Review-Journal

A growing grassroots movement in the United States is on a mission to take down anything even remotely linked to Tesla and its controversial boss, Elon Musk. And no, it’s not just your run-of-the-mill activists getting in on the action. According to one former angel investor, she’s ready to part ways with her Tesla, thanks to Elon Musk’s recent antics—and she’s even suggested letting people destroy her EV with sledgehammers, making it a full-blown Instagram spectacle.

Joanne Wilson, who bought a Model S with her venture capitalist husband Fred Wilson back in 2014, isn’t exactly the type you’d expect to join the anti-Tesla crusade. The couple picked up their first Tesla shortly after their parking garage was outfitted with EV chargers. Later, they bought a second Tesla, splitting their time between California and New York, as Business Insider reports.

Read: Tesla Protester Fears Retaliation After Musk Accuses Her Of ‘Committing Crimes’

However, the couple have joined many other Tesla owners and want to get rid of their electric cars. Writing on her blog, Wilson mused whether it was Musk’s “complete disregard for human beings,” in disrupting the federal government “like a classic tech dude,” or if the “awful new Cybertruck that looks like something out of Mad Max,” has upset them the most.

The Wilsons recently traded in their Californian-based Tesla for a new Volvo EV. Hilariously, the Swedish brand offered just $2,000 for the Tesla. They now need to get rid of their second Tesla and suggested they could park it outside one of their cannabis stores in New York and invite people to smash it with sledgehammers. While this seems to have been a tongue-in-cheek idea, one Tesla Model S owner in Seattle did recently destroy his EV with a hammer and an axe.

More: Tesla’s Q1 Sales May Be Its Worst In Years As Analysts Warn Stock Could Sink 50%

Last week, a man in Seattle’s Sodo neighborhood parked his white Model S, rounded up some friends, and began smashing the car’s body panels and shattering the windows. Speaking with a local reporter, the owner, identified only as Greg, admitted that he bought the Tesla just so he could destroy it in protest of Musk and Tesla’s alleged support for “fascists.” Now that’s a statement.

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A post shared by Jonathan Choe (@choeshow)

Attacks on Tesla vehicles and chargers seem to be getting more and more common. Less than a week after seven stalls at a Supercharger station in Massachusetts were torched, a further three have been burned, this time in South Carolina. However, the attacker in this case got an unpleasant surprise when he apparently set his clothes on fire.

According to the North Charleston Police, the man began his attack by spray-painting ‘Long Live the Ukraine’ and a crude message directed at President Donald Trump. He then threw flaming beer bottles, which seemed to be homemade Molotov cocktails, at the charging stations.

Read: 7 Tesla Supercharger Stations Torched In Massachusetts Raising Alarms Over Arson Attacks

Local authorities say that while the man was throwing these bottles, the clothes on his back caught fire. According to witnesses, the individual then quickly ran from the parking lot.

Further details on the attack are limited, but North Charleston Police spokesperson Harve Jacobs told the Associated Press that no arrests had been made as of Tuesday. He also said the investigation had been handed over to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Fire crews attended the scene and doused the flames, but it’s unclear how bad the damage was.

In the case of the high-profile arson attack on a Supercharger location in Littleton, Massachusetts, earlier this month, Tesla said it would repair the facility in less than 48 hours. It hasn’t commented on how quickly this site in South Carolina will be fixed, but it’ll likely also want to get it back up and running as soon as possible.

Elon Musk’s dive into politics and significant presence within the Trump administration has turned many against Tesla, and attacks against the automaker aren’t just happening in the United States. At the start of March, eight Tesla vehicles were torched at a dealership in France, causing over $730,000 in damage.

Last year, YouTuber WhistlinDiesel made headlines after snapping the frame of his Tesla Cybertruck during one of his infamous durability tests. Fast forward to today, and another YouTuber, also a Cybertruck owner, decided to take it upon himself to see if Tesla’s electric truck is really as sturdy as it claims.

Unlike traditional pickup trucks that rely on solid steel frames, the Cybertruck is built with cast aluminum. Tesla received plenty of praise for pioneering the use of gigacasting technology in the automotive industry, but the choice to use a cast aluminum frame is starting to raise some concerns with each new test.

More: Eagle Cap Camper Snaps Ram 3500 Dually In Half, Mopar Refuses $17,000 Repair Bill

According to Tesla, the Cybertruck has a maximum towing capacity of 11,000 lbs (4,990 kg). To test how strong the frame really is, YouTuber JerryRigEverything attached a crane scale to measure the amount of force the hitch was subjected to. The force came from a massive excavator pushing down on the hitch.

Towing Capacity vs Tongue Weight

Something we need to stress (pun intended) here is that this test measures tongue weight, not tow capacity. Tongue weight refers to the downward force exerted by the trailer on the hitch, while towing tests evaluate how much weight the vehicle can pull in a horizontal direction. These are distinct stress tests, so comparing the two directly can be misleading. As many manufacturers point out, for ball-mounted hitches, the tongue weight is typically 10 to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight.

Back to the test, after sustained pressure, the hitch started to crack and, at just over 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg), it snapped completely. As if that weren’t bad enough, aluminum lacks a fatigue limit, meaning it becomes progressively weaker each time it’s stressed. Steel, on the other hand, doesn’t have this issue. This means that, at least in theory, Cybertrucks constantly towing heavy loads could potentially see their frames weaken over time—hardly ideal for a vehicle marketed as tough and durable.

Watch: Whistlin Diesel Snaps Tesla Cybertruck Frame In Viral “Durability” Test

Of course, as mentioned before, the weight in this test was applied downward, while most of the force from towing would be applied outward. This means the Cybertruck shouldn’t have any major issues if it keeps its trailer load under capacity.

JerryRigEverything suggested that hitting a large pothole at, say, 80 mph (129 km/h) with an 11,000 lb load could potentially generate enough force to damage the Cybertruck’s frame. However, this is purely theoretical, and we have to assume Tesla accounted for such scenarios when developing the vehicle and determining its capacities

Nevertheless, for comparison, the team also tested an old Ram 2500, which survived a 10,500 lbs (4,763 kg) tongue weight load without so much as a hiccup. So yeah, Tesla might have a bit of work to do when it comes to making the Cybertruck a true workhorse.

The Tesla Cybertruck that was detonated outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on January 1 briefly appeared for auction yesterday before being quickly removed. It’s perhaps the last car we would have expected to see listed for sale, and it’s unclear why the auction was pulled—other than, well, the apparent fact that selling the Cybertruck would have been rather morbid.

At approximately 8:39 a.m. on January 1, U.S. Army Special Forces soldier Matthew Alan Livelsberger pulled up outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. He had rented the truck on Turo and filled it with fireworks, camping fuel, and gas tanks. While sitting in the driver’s seat, Livelsberger shot himself, moments before the explosion. Seven people were injured, but fortunately, no innocent bystanders were killed.

Read: Musk Says Media Coverage Of Cybertruck Explosion “Sabotages” Tesla’s Image, Threatens Lawsuits

Local emergency responders and Elon Musk quickly praised the strength of the Cybertruck, noting that the stainless steel body helped contain the explosion. Shortly after the incident, Musk claimed that Tesla would “buff out the scratches and get it back on the road,” adding that the powertrain remained fully operational despite the explosion.

As reported by Jalopnik, auction photos shared on IAA show that the Cybertruck remains in the same grim condition it was in after investigators tore it apart in the wake of the accident. Initially, much of the roof, the doors, and the pillars remained in place, but they were later removed. A look inside the cabin reveals that most of it has been badly charred, and there’s simply no way of repairing this thing without replacing virtually every single part.

There’s no word on whether Tesla itself was involved in the auction being canceled, but we’d be surprised if the brand decided to rebuild the vehicle. After all, Tesla already has enough on its plate with slowing sales and a tanking stock price. However, history has shown that Musk thrives on publicity—whether good or bad—and rebuilding the vehicle used in a targeted attack could be one way to capture the public’s imagination.

IAA

In case it wasn’t obvious after several years of proof from various automakers, electric cars are seriously quick. All-wheel-drive EVs with gobs of power are understandably even faster. What might surprise some die-hard petrolheads, though, is that Dodge’s new Charger Daytona is quicker than a Challenger Hellcat Redeye.

The new Charger Daytona isn’t getting rave reviews. Whether that’s because of its electric motors, its lack of a V8 option, the inability to do a burnout, pricing, or something else, its welcome was lukewarm at best – and it’s likely why some dealers are offering massive discounts and Dodge itself is leasing it out at low rates.

More: Dodge Charger Daytona Lease Drops To As Low As $249 With $4K Down, 0% APR For 6 Years

What is not up for debate is how fast it is. According to Car And Driver, the Daytona Scat Pack with its 670 horsepower (499 kW) and all-wheel drive system managed to rocket from 0-60 mph (0- 96 km/h) in just 3.3 seconds. When the magazine tested the 797 hp (594 kW) Challenger Hellcat Redeye, which was rear-wheel drive, its best time was 3.8 seconds.

On the flip side, the Charger Daytona wasn’t as agile as a similarly rapid BMW i4 M50. Whereas the German electric sedan had a nicely tuned chassis and suspension, the Charger plowed through corners with “excessive understeer.”

It did manage to out-brake the BMW and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N though. On the skid pad, it matched the Hyundai and was 0.01 off the mark set by the BMW. That mix of skills might not be exactly what everyone wants, but it does make the Charger Daytona appealing to those whose main priority is straight-line acceleration.

In the end, buying a new Dodge Charger Daytona is a quick way to smoke every stock Challenger (and probably Charger) Hellcat you come across, alongside some much more expensive machinery. Having four fat tire patches all gripping and ripping, as well as instantly available torque, is just too much for the old ICE-powered Hell Kitty to handle. 

Elon Musk has long been one of the most polarizing figures in the automotive world, and his recent political entanglements have only amplified that reputation. Sensing an opportunity to capitalize on the controversy, Kia’s Norwegian division jumped into the conversation—using the Tesla CEO’s name to generate some buzz and perhaps sell a few more EVs in the process.

More: Fed Up With Musk’s Politics? Polestar’s CEO Has Some EVs He’d Like To Sell You

The Korean company posted a photo of the new Kia EV3 electric crossover on Instagram, featuring a bumper sticker that read: “I Bought This After Elon Went Crazy.” At first glance, it looked like a cheeky joke from a Kia owner, but it was actually uploaded by Kia Bil Norge AS—the official Instagram page of Kia Norway.

A Not-So-Subtle Swipe at Tesla

This marketing move riffs on the “I Bought This Before Elon Went Crazy” bumper stickers, which became popular among Tesla owners experiencing buyer’s remorse over Musk’s increasingly erratic behavior. Kia’s version flips the phrase, positioning its EVs as an appealing option for those having second thoughts about their Tesla loyalty.

Predictably, the Kia ad didn’t sit well with some Tesla fans, particularly Tesla stock holders, who were quick to voice their outrage on X (formerly Twitter). Among them was vocal Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt, who called out Kia Norway for what he deemed a “bad look” for the brand. Critics argued that the post risked alienating potential customers, while some even suggested it inadvertently implied Kia’s EVs were only worth buying as a protest against Musk, rather than on their own merits.

Bad look @Kia to have your official Instagram account in Norway posting stuff like this. pic.twitter.com/agpBvsTyXJ

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) March 9, 2025

The Instagram post, originally shared in late February, was quietly removed on March 10, likely in response to the backlash.

Kia Doubles Down in Finland

Norway wasn’t the only place where Kia took shots at Musk. On March 7, Finland’s largest newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, ran a full-page front-cover ad for the Kia EV4 sedan with the headline “Voi näitä Elon päiviä.” This Finnish phrase, a play on “Voi näitä ilon päiviä” (“Oh, these days of joy”), swapped out “joy” for “Elon,” creating a not-so-subtle jab at the billionaire’s recent antics.

Of course, Kia’s cheeky marketing isn’t the only criticism Musk has faced. Protests against him have erupted in multiple countries, with similar campaigns gaining traction in recent months.

Tesla’s Reputation Problem

Musk’s controversies extend beyond his now-infamous salute and his public alignment with far-right politics. His role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration initiative aimed at slashing federal spending, which has led to widespread layoffs, further fueling public backlash.

More: ‘Don’t Buy A Swasticar’ Ad Campaign Targets Musk In London

The impact on Tesla’s bottom line has been undeniable. European Tesla sales plummeted 45% in January 2025 compared to the same period last year, a stark contrast to the overall growth of the EV market in the region. Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock price has followed a similar downward trajectory, dropping from a peak of $479.86 on December 17, 2024, to $248.33 as of March 10, 2025, roughly the same level it was at before the US elections in November 2024.

https://twitter.com/Timo_Virta1/status/1897894264685641962

Now is an interesting time to own a Tesla. For over a decade, the brand has produced some of the most popular EVs on the market and cultivated a nearly cult-like following, thanks in no small part to its CEO, Elon Musk. However, as Musk has waded deeper into politics, the brand’s once-pristine image seems to be fading, and reports of vandalism against Tesla models appear to be on the rise.

Read: Boston Man Arrested For Slapping Stickers On Teslas, Musk Responds

No Tesla model has sparked more debate than the Cybertruck. Its polarizing design, with sharp angles and a body that looks like it was pulled from a rejected 90s sci-fi film, has turned heads for all the wrong reasons. Some fans love it; others, well, would rather see it run off the road. It seems someone in Brooklyn falls into the latter camp, having recently taken their frustrations out on a Cybertruck parked by the side of the road.

Photos shared on Reddit show the damage: the Cybertruck was egged, and to top it off, what looks like dog feces was smeared across its rear. No word yet on whether the vandal has a personal vendetta against the truck, Musk, or just sharp, angular vehicles in general. Either way, they made their point, while wasting some precious eggs in the process. Given egg prices right now, that’s almost a privilege.

While there’s still no word on the identity of the vandal, there’s a chance the owner could track them down if they’re motivated enough. Tesla’s Sentry Mode, which uses external cameras to record suspicious activity, might just have caught the action. If the culprit wasn’t wearing a ski mask or some other form of facial protection, they could be staring down a very incriminating video of their vandalism.

You won’t be surprised to learn that this isn’t the first time a Tesla has been targeted. Back in January, a Cybertruck in Los Angeles became the unfortunate canvas for a group of vandals. After being wrecked in a crash, it was abandoned in a parking lot, only to become an impromptu art project for local miscreants. It wasn’t long before the truck was covered in graffiti, transforming it into an unwanted street attraction.

Seen in Brooklyn a cybercuck that got egged and smeared with dog shit
byu/TheMarsBis3xual infuckcars

In the ever-evolving world of advertising, where companies are constantly trying to outdo each other with the next big thing, Volvo has thrown a curveball in Saudi Arabia for a couple of reasons. First, it doesn’t actually feature a Volvo—or a car of any kind. Before anyone jumps to conclusions and assumes this is a rehash of what Jaguar recently did, hear this: the entire ad is a creation of artificial intelligence. It might even offer a glimpse into what we can expect from future brand campaigns.

Titled “Come Back Stronger,” the video ad is a surreal mix of vague, almost abstract clips. There are close-up shots of people, individuals running in the desert, and other scenes that seem completely unrelated to anything Volvo specifically does. What does tie it all together is the voiceover, which, to be fair, sounds like a car commercial—even if the visuals don’t match.

Read: Even Jaguar’s Designers Weren’t Convinced By Controversial Rebranding, Leaked Letter Claims

Here’s the script:

“They say some dreams are too ambitious but we’ve never believed in limits. Challenges didn’t hold us back, they pushed us forward. Every obstacle, every doubt, shaped us into something stronger because progress isn’t about the past, it’s about what’s possible. And what’s possible is everything. This isn’t just a return, it’s a comeback, and together, we vow to always come back stronger.”

So, what does all that mean when it comes to practical application? Volvo is hoping to sell more cars in Saudi Arabia with its new electrified lineup. That’s the long and the short of the entire ad campaign. Once again, Volvo greenlit this with zero cars in the video.

It’s unclear whether Volvo intentionally chose to leave cars out or if it simply had too much trouble getting the AI to generate a truly accurate Volvo model. According to Adweek, Osama Saddiq, the founder of Lion—the agency behind the ad—said, “This was a tough decision… to tell a deeply human story through the voices of Saudi locals… showing the car would have distracted from the narrative.”

Regardless of intention or execution, it’s clear that AI could soon become a powerful tool in the automotive world. Even Mercedes’ head of design has warned that AI might make designers obsolete within the next decade.

Behind-the-scenes storyboards from Lion show just how the company did the work. In addition, it said that by using AI it cut production time from months down to weeks. For many brands, that alone could be enough of an incentive to start experimenting with AI more frequently in the near future.

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Some electric vehicle owners may be in for an unpleasant surprise when they pull up to charge today only to find their intended station reduced to a charred wreck. That’s the unfortunate situation at the Tesla Supercharger station in Littleton, Massachusetts, where at least seven stalls were torched overnight. Authorities are now investigating the incident as an act of arson.

“Chief Matthew Pinard reports that the Littleton Police Department responded to and is investigating fires at a Tesla charging station at The Point Shopping Center that are believed to be suspicious in nature,” local officials told ABC News. “Responding officers observed that several Tesla charging stations were engulfed in flames and heavy, dark smoke.”

More: Dozen Teslas Torched At French Dealer Causing Over $730,000 In Damages

Authorities have made it clear that they suspect arson. “The Littleton Police and Fire Departments, along with the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit from the State Fire Marshal’s Office, are investigating and have determined that the fire was likely intentionally set,” they confirmed. This is an important detail, especially since Tesla has provided additional context that aligns with that conclusion.

While fires at electric vehicle or charging stations can happen, they’re extremely rare, and are typically the result of a thermal event caused by a faulty connection between a vehicle and charger. In this case, however, Tesla confirmed that no cars were plugged in at the time. Impressively, the company says the station will be fully operational again in less than 48 hours.

No customers were charging at time of the fire. Posts & wire will be replaced in <48hrs. Critical infrastructure for EV drivers. Arson investigation ongoing with @LittletonMAPD.

— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) March 4, 2025

Interestingly, Tesla does seem to have a fast turnaround when things like this happen. When vandals attacked chargers about a week ago, the team said it would fix the issue within a day and press charges. Perhaps it’ll do the same if police find a suspect for the fires in Massachusetts.

Read: Tesla Store Hit With “Nazi Cars” Graffiti By Would-Be Arsonist

Sadly, this marks the third arson attack in just a week. In Colorado, police caught a suspect with explosives and incendiary devices near a Tesla dealership—though, thankfully, no fires were set. In France, however, things took a darker turn. Police believe someone set fire to at least a dozen cars at a service center overnight on Sunday, including customer vehicles that were there for repairs.

Lead image Littleton Fire Department

On Sunday night, one or more individuals set fire to at least a dozen cars at a Tesla dealership in France, according to a magistrate from the Toulouse public prosecutor’s office. The attack damaged both vehicles for sale and customer cars in for repairs. While the motive remains unclear, it appears to be the latest, and possibly the most serious, incident amid growing tensions surrounding Tesla. Protests targeting the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, have been on the rise in recent months.

Authorities say that they believe this was arson in part because of the fire pattern itself. It appears as though there were at minimum three separate fire origins and that none of the fire damaged the building itself. Of the twelve vehicles bruned, eight were completely destroyed, while four sustained partial damage. The prosecutor’s office called the fire “not at all accidental.”

More: Woman Caught With Explosives After Tesla Dealership Vandalism

According to FranceInfo, damage estimates are hovering around 700,000 Euros or about $735,000 at current exchange rates. Video from the scene shows the extent of the destruction, including cars burned so severely that only their skeletal remains are left.

It appears as though the arsonist targeted a small group of cars including several Model Ys and Model 3s. In another section of the lot we see a Model 3 damaged on the front but in far better shape than some other cars in the lot.

Over the past few months, protests and demonstrations against Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have been ramping up. Weeks ago, protesters projected the word Heil onto the Berlin Gigafactory. Others put up anti-Tesla posters in London, while more demonstrators gathered outside dealerships across the U.S. in the past month.

One person was arrested for attempted but failed arson at a dealership last week. At the same time, it very well appears to be the most dangerous and destructive in nature. While some vandals have targeted charging stations or individual cars, none have gone to this sort of scale.

Tesla and Musk Remain Silent

Despite the growing wave of anti-Tesla actions, both the company and Musk have remained largely silent. Aside from Tesla’s previous statement vowing to prosecute vandals targeting charging stations, there’s been little response. French authorities, meanwhile, have yet to release any information about possible suspects.

More: Tesla Sales Plunge 45% In Norway Even As EV Market Surges By 53%

Consumers, however, seem to be making their stance known with their wallets. Tesla’s sales have taken a significant hit across multiple European markets. In the first two months of 2025, sales dropped 45% in France and Norway, while Sweden saw a 42% decline compared to the same period last year. Denmark was hit even harder, with Tesla’s sales plummeting by 48% in February alone.

Image Google Photos