In the early hours of Saturday, seven Tesla electric vehicles were completely destroyed by fire at a car dealership in Ottersberg, northern Germany.

This incident coincided with a worldwide day of protests organized against Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla and a close associate of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The fire was reported by local firefighters around 03:30 local time (02:30 GMT), and although it was extinguished quickly, residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed due to the smoke.

The cars, which were completely burned beyond repair, are to be removed by a specialized company.

Authorities have not yet established a clear link between the fire and the global protests against Musk, but an investigation has been launched to determine the cause.

Witnesses are being sought to provide information that may clarify whether the fire was a deliberate act or a technical malfunction.

Damage assessments have been estimated in the hundreds of thousands of euros.

Attacks against Tesla dealerships and parked vehicles have reportedly become more frequent.

Just two days prior, three Tesla cars were vandalized in Hanover, where slogans such as "KILL ELON" were spray-painted on them, prompting further investigation into politically motivated crimes.

Demonstrations were organized by the activist group "Neue Generation," which emerged from the now-defunct climate movement "Letzte Generation." They announced nationwide protests in Germany aimed at Musk, citing his purportedly fascist influence and deliberate anti-democratic stance in the U.S. They specifically criticized Musk for supporting the far-right political party, Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Protests on Saturday were planned in various German cities including Berlin, Munich, Nuremberg, and Duisburg, targeting Tesla showrooms, charge points, and other facilities.

"Elon Musk was once seen as a pioneer of the ecological future.

Today, behind the facade of his Tesla brand, he is perceived as a wealthy tech oligarch collaborating with Trump towards a future that undermines climate and democracy, even in Germany," stated Joyce Fiedler, a protest participant in Berlin.

Meanwhile, Musk has recently made headlines for selling the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to his own artificial intelligence firm, xAI, in a stock-swap deal valuing the social media company at approximately $33 billion.

The total estimated value of the transaction, including debts, is reported at $41.16 billion.

Musk described the merger as a step towards unlocking significant combined potential by integrating xAI's advanced capabilities with the vast reach of X, reinforcing the intertwined futures of both entities.

Global demonstrations against Tesla have taken place in various cities across Europe and even in parts of the U.S., reflecting widespread discontent with Musk’s business practices and political influence.

In the UK, protests were held outside Tesla dealerships, urging a boycott of the electric vehicle manufacturer.

The campaign, known as Tesla Takedown, involved coordinated events in cities across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, including Manchester, Leeds, and Edinburgh.

Protesters in London displayed banners with messages like 'Tesla finances fascists' and 'Musk is destroying democracy,' calling for consumers to refrain from purchasing Tesla vehicles and to divest their shares to exert pressure on Musk.

The organizers assert that Musk is using the wealth amassed from Tesla to dismantle democratic structures globally, advocating non-violent measures to counter his influence.