Tesla Built Panic Rooms To Save Dealership Staff From Angry Customers

These safe rooms were already a feature long before the current wave of attacks resulting from hatred of CEO Elon Musk https://www.carscoops.com/author/chris-chilton-cc/ by Chris Chilton Tesla outfitted some showrooms with panic rooms, a whistleblower has revealed. The rooms are designed to protect staff from violent customers, Handelsblatt reports. Tesla was already worried about staff safety before this year’s outbreak of EV vandalism. This year’s outbreak of anti-Tesla attacks has forced some Tesla drivers to trade in their cars over fears for their safety. And while people working in Tesla showrooms – which have also come under attack – can’t escape the vandals so easily without upending their lives and getting new jobs, they can at least hide when things get scary. A new report reveals some Tesla facilities have panic rooms where staff can take refuge from angry customers. A Tesla internal document titled “Security for Managers: Threats and Aggression Against Your Team” fell into the hands of German newspaper Handelsblatt thanks to a whistleblower, and contains some fascinating details about Tesla’s concern for its staff. More: Ohio Sheriff Calls Tesla Vandals ‘Fat People Living In Mom’s Basement’ “Service center or showroom employees may fear for their safety due to violent customers or other outside parties,” the guide says, going on to explain that Tesla has modified some of its buildings to “provide employees with direct access to a separate room in the event of violence.” It’s not known which sites have safe rooms or how many rooms exist, but what’s really noteworthy about this panic room program and the security document is that they were in existence before 2025, meaning they predate the current wave of violence against Tesla. Tesla protesters at one of the brand’s locations outside Boston (Photo: Carscoops) Tesla cars and retail sites have been targeted by protestors furious at CEO Elon Musk’s DOGE efficiency drive on behalf of the new Donald Trump-headed US government. Dozens of Tesla EVs have been shot at, sprayed with graffiti, and set on fire at locations across the globe, leading to some vandals being charged with domestic terror offenses. More: Tesla’s Q1 Deliveries Crash Harder Than Wall Street Expected Tesla’s staff security document urges employees to try showing empathy when confronted by an angry customer, and not to take the attacks personally. They’re also encouraged to engage in role play with other staff members to better prepare themselves for any kind of confrontation and meet regularly for coffee to share concerns. If those guidelines are behind adhered to, there must be an awful lot of coffee being drunk in Tesla stores right now. We’ve reached out to Tesla for comment on the Handelsblatt report and will update this article if the company responds. Chris Chilton Senior Editor Chris is a seasoned automotive journalist with over two decades of experience. He has worked... Read full bio

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