A massive fire broke out at a Tesla dealership on the outskirts of Rome early Monday morning, destroying at least 17 vehicles, according to Italian fire officials. Fortunately, the dealership was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries have been reported.
Authorities are actively investigating the cause of the fire, with arson remaining a possibility. Rome’s fire service stated that all potential causes are being examined, while local police are reviewing surveillance footage and questioning the dealership’s owners.
This incident follows a recent wave of vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles across Italy. Reports indicate that several Teslas have been defaced with anti-Elon Musk and anti-Donald Trump graffiti. In the Garbatella neighborhood, where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was raised, multiple Tesla vehicles were spray-painted with political messages. Though Meloni is known to have a friendly relationship with Musk, she has not publicly addressed the acts of vandalism.
Just a week prior, another fire at a car dealership in northern Rome destroyed 30 vehicles, including several used Teslas. Initially believed to be caused by an electrical fault, the incident is still under investigation. Meanwhile, Tesla dealerships in Milan have also been targeted by environmental groups, adding to the growing number of attacks on the brand.
Similar incidents of Tesla-related vandalism have been reported outside of Italy as well. In France, multiple Teslas have been damaged, and various acts of defacement have been recorded in different regions of the United States, including the Pacific Northwest and Northeast. Protesters in the U.S. have gathered outside Tesla locations, chanting slogans opposing Musk’s influence, particularly in response to federal job cuts linked to his Department of Government Efficiency.
As investigations continue, law enforcement officials are working to determine whether the fire at the Rome dealership was an isolated incident or part of the broader pattern of hostility towards Tesla. Authorities remain on high alert as tensions surrounding the company and its CEO persist on a global scale.
