Tesla store in Rome burns down, 17 vehicles lost in suspected arson

A fire at Tesla’s Rome store destroyed 17 cars. Arson is suspected amid global protests and vandalism. Investigation ongoing — read more.

Early Monday morning, a fire broke out at a Tesla dealership on the outskirts of Rome, destroying 17 electric vehicles and damaging the building. The blaze was reported around 4 a.m. and quickly drew a response from local firefighters, but the losses were substantial.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, but arson remains a leading theory. Tesla Italy is cooperating fully with investigators and has handed over footage from surveillance cameras, including video recorded by the cars themselves, which are capable of monitoring their surroundings even when turned off.

The incident comes amid growing global protests against Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk. The “Tesla Takedown” movement, which has gained traction worldwide, has encouraged boycotts, demonstrations at dealerships, and even urged supporters to sell off Tesla shares as a way to apply financial pressure. While most protests remain peaceful, there has been a surge in vandalism and arson targeting Tesla properties.

Similar attacks have occurred in Las Vegas and France in recent weeks. In Las Vegas, a suspect was arrested for arson and weapons possession after damaging multiple vehicles. However, unconfirmed reports have circulated online about additional incidents, including one in South Carolina, which authorities have not officially addressed.

The financial impact of this unrest is already visible. Tesla’s stock has declined by more than 30% since the beginning of 2025, making it one of the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 during the first quarter. In parallel, vehicle registrations in the U.S. fell by 11% in January, while Tesla’s European sales reportedly dropped over 40% in February.

Former President Donald Trump has condemned the wave of attacks against Tesla, describing them as acts of domestic terrorism. He has also called for stricter penalties for those responsible, including possible imprisonment abroad.

While investigators have yet to confirm whether arson was behind the Rome fire, the incident appears to align with a broader pattern of politically charged aggression directed at Tesla. Further developments in the coming weeks are expected to shed more light on the situation.

Source: electrek.co