An attempted kidnapping was seen taking place at a Tesla Supercharger in Canada, though authorities say the victim managed to escape with only minor injuries.
On Saturday, four suspects at the Vaughan Mills Supercharger in Concord, Ontario attempted to kidnap a woman, according to a post from the York Regional Police. Authorities also say that the victim was able to escape with minor injuries.
The department is conducting a still-ongoing investigation, but they believe it was a targeted incident and that there is no threat to public safety. They announced looking for at least four suspects dressed in black, driving a blue Honda Civic with the license plate AXJN850 that was stolen in Toronto.
At the time of writing, the York Regional Police Department has not yet responded to Teslarati’s request for additional information on the incident.
Those with information, cellphone, or dashcam footage who have not already talked with the police department should call the 4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423 extension 7441.
Footage of the incident also surfaced, as was apparently taken from a nearby person who was sitting in their Tesla.
Video shared by X account 6ixBuzzTV is admittedly hard to watch, and the report also adds that the assailants had at least two guns at the time of the kidnapping. Additional, the account reports that York police initially classified the incident as an attempted carjacking.
Woman Supercharging her Model Y carjacked by 4 men with guns. So sad we have to worry about things like this, exactly why companies like @EVjectOfficial exist. https://t.co/H1kusV781R
— Kim Java (@ItsKimJava) August 25, 2024
The incident has sparked widespread discussion within the Tesla and electric vehicle (EV) communities about the product EVject, which allows drivers to quickly disconnect and drive away from Superchargers without leaving their vehicles in cases of emergency. Some have pointed out that the assailants in this particular case blocked the victim’s car in, so it’s up in the air as to how effective that solution might be.
Still, the product has gained widespread acclaim as a solution to incidents where drivers may need to escape without disconnecting their charging cables. This particular incident and discussion comes on the heels of Tesla filing a lawsuit against EVject earlier this month, over safety risks it says come from a lack of over-temperature protection hardware.
Tesla Supercharger station in Bay Area hit by vandals with every charging cable cut
What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.
