Mar 19, 2025 - Business

Tesla pulled from Vancouver International Auto Show on safety concerns

Rebecca Falconer

Investigators look over the scene at a Tesla Collision Center after an individual used incendiary devices to set several vehicles on fire on March 18, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. — Investigators look over the scene at a Tesla Collision Center after police said incendiary devices were used to set several vehicles on fire in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Tesla was excluded from the Vancouver International Auto Show that began in Canada on Wednesday due to safety concerns, organizers said.

The big picture: President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have denounced as "domestic terrorism" a spate of attacks that the FBI is investigating on Tesla vehicles and dealerships, spurred by #TeslaTakedown protests targeting CEO Elon Musk's involvement in DOGE-driven cuts to the federal workforce and agencies.

Acts of vandalism on Tesla vehicles have been reported in other countries — including Canada, where nationwide anger at Trump's tariffs targeting the North American ally has resulted in many embracing a global "boycott USA" backlash.
Many Canadians were also angry at Musk for writing in a since-deleted post last month, "Canada is not a real country." Over 375,000 people signed a petition calling for Musk's Canadian citizenship to be revoked.

Driving the news: Vancouver International Auto Show executive director Eric Nicholl said Wednesday Canada's largest auto show had "removed Tesla as a participant in this week's event, after the automaker was provided multiple opportunities to voluntarily withdraw."

Nicholl said the auto show's "primary concern" was the "safety" of attendees, exhibitors, and staff.
"This decision will ensure all attendees can be solely focused on enjoying the many positive elements of the event," he added.

Zoom out: The event is being held one month before the New York International Auto Show.

Representatives for that auto show did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on its plans for Teslas.
Representatives for Tesla did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment, but Musk responded to the attacks on Teslas during an appearance on Fox News Tuesday, saying: "It's really come as quite a shock to me that there is this level of really hatred and violence from the left."

Go deeper: FBI investigating attacks targeting Tesla dealerships and cars

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Tesla pulled from Vancouver International Auto Show on safety concerns

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