By Olivia Le Boadivan

GENEVA, June 14 (Reuters) - Protesters set fire to a Tesla and smashed bank windows in Geneva on Sunday, expressing their anger over the upcoming G7 summit in neighboring France.

The march was largely peaceful, with the exception of these incidents. Police estimated the number of participants at around 7,000, adding that they confiscated knives and fireworks.

Protesters said they came to demonstrate against the G7 as a symbol of political and economic power concentrated in the hands of a handful of countries. Last week, Tesla owner Elon Musk became the first person in the world with a net worth of $1 trillion, reigniting concerns about inequality. Musk has also served as an advisor to US President Donald Trump.

"For me, it's a meeting of the rich that shows once again how they can get richer while the poor are forgotten," said protester Pippa Sugi.

The G7 summit will be held from June 15 to 17 in Evian-les-Bains, on the shores of Lake Geneva, bringing together the leaders of France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, along with the European Union.

The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are expected to dominate the agenda, while leaders will seek to avoid a clash with Trump, who is trying to finalize a framework peace agreement with Iran.

In Geneva, shops closed and hundreds of security forces were deployed on the streets amid fears of violence. Protests have been common at G7 meetings over the years, with many demonstrators using the summits to denounce capitalism, globalization, climate change, and inequality.

Matthias Picard expressed his dissatisfaction with the heavy police presence.

Picard said, "This is an attempt to intimidate protesters, to scare people and deter them from going out to protest."

Another protester, Clelia Collin, said she wanted to raise the issue of gender inequality.

She added, "The values represented by the G7 are completely anti-women and contribute to inequality because there is no equality at all."