Arrest made, charges laid in 2 arsons involving Teslas

Calgary police have announced an arrest in a pair of arsons involving Tesla vehicles this past March. (Archives - CTV News)

Someone let their inner firebug loose on a pair of Tesla vehicles in southeast Calgary this past March.

On Friday, police announced they’d arrested the person they believe is responsible.

Firefighters were called out twice in as many nights for similar incidents.

The first incident was on March 18.

“A woman parked her white 2023 Tesla Model Y at a charging station on 12th Avenue S.E.,” police said in a release.

“At 11 p.m., she discovered the vehicle ablaze and called 911.”

March 19 saw a second incident.

“At approximately 9:50 p.m., emergency crews were called to a Tesla storage lot on Fairmount Drive S.E.,” police said.

“A grey 2025 Tesla Cybertruck was found burning.”

Police say in both incidents, the fires were found to be deliberately set.

In both incidents, police say an accelerant was used.

Witnesses, CCTV footage and a call-out to the public for help played parts in the investigation, police say, as did DNA found at one of the scenes.

A 38-year-old Calgary man is now charged with two counts of arson and will appear in court on Jan. 12, 2026.

Targeted

The incidents in Calgary came at a time when the targeting of Tesla vehicles by vandals was ramping up across the U.S. and Canada.

At the time, nearly 80 Tesla vehicles were vandalized at a dealership in Hamilton, Ont.

Activists were arrested for spray-painting a dealership in Montreal around that time.

And that was about the time a Vancouver auto show pulled Tesla vehicles for safety concerns.

Tesla vehicles were targeted in the aftermath of American President Donald Trump appointing Tesla CEO Elon Musk to oversee the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency and the department then slashing jobs from a variety of agencies.

Calgary police have not said what they believe the motive behind the March incidents to be.

The allegations against the suspect have not been tested in court.