London, Ont., police investigate 'suspicious' Tesla fire in mall parking lot
The fire comes amid worldwide uptick in vandalism targeting Elon Musk's electric car company
A Tesla vehicle fire in a London, Ont., parking lot on Monday night is being investigated as suspicious, police announced Wednesday afternoon.
The fire happened at 11:30 p.m. ET on March 17, and the vehicle was a 2025 4-door Tesla Model S, the London Police Service said. It was parked in the parking lot of CF Masonville Place, a mall in the city's north end.
There were no injuries reported in connection to the fire.
WATCH | A Tesla vehicle on fire in a north London mall parking lot:
The vehicle sustained significant damage, with police estimating a cost of $140,000.
Although the circumstances surrounding the fire are still unknown, Tesla vehicles and dealerships have been the target of increasing instances of vandalism, protest and destruction in recent weeks, both in Canada and the United States.
On Wednesday, a Montreal Tesla dealership was vandalized by activists who covered its front entrance in paint. One day prior, the Vancouver International Auto Show announced the removal of Tesla from the show, vaguely citing safety concerns as a reason.
Acts of vandalism against the electric vehicle manufacturer have multiplied since U.S. President Donald Trump took office and appointed Musk, considered the world's richest man, to oversee the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been slashing government spending and programs.
CBC News has reached out to Tesla for comment, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Cadillac Fairview, the mall's owner, directed all questions to London police.
London police are asking the public for their help in the investigation, specifically through sharing dash-cam, residential or business surveillance camera footage.
Given U.S.-Canada relations, have you sold or tried to sell your Tesla? We want to hear from you. Send an email to ask@cbc.ca.