More: Elon Musk’s Boring Company is tunneling beneath Las Vegas with little oversight On Friday, federal agents announced they were investigating vandalism at a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado. Someone smashed windows, painted Cybertruck windshields with large red Xs and tried to start a fire. Local media reported that someone also painted "Nazi Cars" at the dealership about an hour northwest of Denver, which said it was the third attack of its kind this year. The vandalism is happening as the world's richest man and the Cybertruck have rapidly taken on a new political significance in America. After decades of pushing Americans to drive electric cars, including Tesla sedans, some liberals have soured on Musk's company. And statistics show that Cybertruck registrations have been surging in conservative states like Texas and Florida, according to data compiled by S&P Global Mobility. In Musk's marketing, the Cybertruck aims to be everything many early EVs were not: Big, boxy and rugged, with lots of power. While most EVs seemed designed for a smaller, smoother future, the Cybertruck appears poised to help its owners survive a coming apocalypse in style and comfort. It's equipped with the towing capacity to haul a 30-foot boat and bullet-resistant stainless steel body — the kind of marketing it takes to sell a red-state EV. "Drive it and you'll never go back. Until you drive it, you'll never know," said Best, 71, from the front seat as the truck drove him around St. Petersburg, Florida. "It just makes sense to me, the fact that it's Elon Musk designing it, because he's so smart, and it's got all these safety features." EVs have been polarizing for years The battles over Musk's vehicles are the latest salvo in the controversial history of battery-powered electric vehicles, which have become a polarizing presence in the United States. A 2024 study by auto industry analytics firm AutoPacific found that more than half of battery EV drivers identify as Democrats, compared to 30% Republican. AutoPacific also singled out Musk's political activity as a possible driver of EV adoption among conservatives. "Our analyses of EV owners over the years have clearly shown a correlation between more left-leaning political views and EV early adopters,” AutoPacific Director of Marketing and Consumers Insights Deborah Grieb said in announcing the study. "But as EVs continue to expand across brands, vehicle types and price ranges, that association is showing signs of fading." Tom Libby, an automotive analyst with S&P Global Mobility, said the year-old Cybertrucks have quickly had an outsized impact on the country. With only about 3,000-4,000 registered each month, Cybertrucks remain a niche vehicle, he said.