Tesla Constructed Panic Rooms to Protect Dealership Employees from Upset Customers | Carscoops

      Safe rooms were already in place prior to the recent surge of attacks fueled by animosity towards CEO Elon Musk, as revealed by a whistleblower.

      Tesla has equipped some of its showrooms with panic rooms intended to safeguard employees from aggressive customers, as reported by Handelsblatt. The company had already expressed concern for employee safety well before this year's rise in vandalism against electric vehicles.

      This surge in anti-Tesla incidents has led some Tesla owners to sell their cars out of safety concerns. Although showroom staff members cannot easily escape from the attackers without making significant life changes, they do have a refuge when situations become threatening. A recent report indicates that certain Tesla locations feature panic rooms where employees can find safety from hostile customers.

      An internal Tesla document named “Security for Managers: Threats and Aggression Against Your Team,” which was leaked to German newspaper Handelsblatt, provides intriguing insights into the company's concern for its workforce.

      The guide notes, “Service center or showroom employees may fear for their safety due to violent customers or other external parties,” and explains that Tesla has altered some of its facilities to ensure “employees have direct access to a separate room in case of violence.”

      Details on which locations have these safe rooms or the total number of such rooms remain unclear, but it is significant that this panic room initiative and the security document were established before 2025, predating the current escalation of violence against Tesla.

      Tesla retail sites and vehicles have been targeted by demonstrators angered by CEO Elon Musk’s DOGE efficiency initiative under the new Donald Trump administration. Numerous Tesla vehicles have faced gunfire, vandalism, and arson worldwide, resulting in several vandals being charged with domestic terrorism.

      The security document encourages Tesla employees to show empathy when handling irate customers and not to take their aggression personally. Employees are also advised to practice role-playing scenarios with coworkers to prepare for potential confrontations and to meet regularly over coffee to discuss concerns. If these recommendations are being followed, it seems that employees are consuming a considerable amount of coffee in Tesla showrooms at this time.

      We have contacted Tesla for a response to the Handelsblatt report and will update this article pending the company's reply.