Tesla Sydney showroom hit by suspected arson attack

A Tesla showroom in Sydney’s Parramatta has been damaged in a suspected arson attack that destroyed three vehicles and caused significant building damage in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

NSW Police were called to the Tesla store on Church Street just after 3:20am following reports of multiple vehicles on fire. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Tesla Australia has confirmed the blaze was the result of deliberate action rather than a vehicle or battery malfunction.

“Tesla Australia has confirmed a Tesla Store has been the subject of a suspected arson attack overnight, the building has suffered fire damage with several vehicles being caught in the fire,” a Tesla spokesperson said.

“Tesla has confirmed this is not a vehicle or battery related fire. Police are now investigating the arson attack on the building.”

Evidence points to deliberate act

Fire and Rescue NSW personnel found clear evidence the blaze was deliberately lit, with jerrycan lids discovered near the dealership and petrol believed to have been used as an accelerant.

“It is quite obvious and just taking a quick look there that these fires have started at the front of some of these vehicles,” Fire and Rescue NSW’s Aaron Ross said.

Ross said emergency services deployed significant resources to contain the fire, which had spread into the ceiling space of the building.

“We dispatched a pretty heavy weight of attack on this fire, it did extend into the ceiling space, but we were able to quickly contain the fire to the area of origin,” he said.

Police have established a crime scene and are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby streets as they work to identify those responsible and determine the motive behind the attack.

The Sydney incident follows a series of attacks on Tesla facilities overseas in early 2025, coinciding with CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration. Previous incidents have ranged from vandalism with graffiti to fires at showrooms and charging stations.

The Parramatta showroom is located in an area with multiple automotive dealerships, but no other manufacturer facilities were damaged in the attack.

Cumberland Police Area Command is continuing its investigation into the incident.