Tesla dealership goes up in flames in Italy with 17 vehicles destroyed as cops probe potential arson amid spate of assaults on Musk’s automobiles in Europe

A Tesla dealership has gone up in flames in Italy with police investigating possible arson that destroyed at least 17 cars, a security source said.

Italy’s anti-terrorism police unit Digos is leading the investigation and is looking into the possibility that anarchists set fire to the cars on the eastern outskirts of Rome, the source said.

Drone images showed the burnt-out remains of cars lined up in a parking lot, with two rows of vehicles back-to-back and a third row some distance away.

The fire brigade said in a statement that the blaze broke out at around 4.30am. The dealership was partially damaged, but nobody was injured.

Officials added that they were exploring ‘all avenues’ in their investigation into the cause of the fire. 

Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries, in response to the Right-wing activism of company owner Elon Musk.

The tech billionaire, who also owns social media platform X, has joined US President Donald Trump‘s administration and has come out in support of hard-Right parties in Europe.

European sales of Tesla vehicles tumbled 49 per cent in the first two months of the year even as overall sales of EVs grew. 

Italy’s anti-terrorism police unit Digos is leading the investigation and is looking into the possibility that anarchists set fire to the cars on the eastern outskirts of Rome

Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries, in response to the right-wing activism of company owner Elon Musk (pictured with Donald Trump)

This handout image taken and released on March 31, 2025, by the Vigili del Fuoco, the Italian Corps of Firefighters, shows firefighters working to put out a fire at a Tesla dealership, in which 17 cars were destroyed or seriously damaged, in Torrenova, on the outskirts of Rome

A drone view shows charred cars following the fire at a Tesla dealership

This comes after a Tesla dealership in southern France went up in flames during a another suspected arson attack.

The showroom in was set ablaze in the early hours of March 3, destroying 12 vehicles worth a staggering £550,000 in what authorities are treating as a deliberate attack.

The fire broke out around 3.15am at the dealership in Plaisance-du-Touch, near Toulouse, according to the local prosecutor’s office. 

Officials confirmed they have launched an investigation into ‘the destruction and damage of property belonging to others by dangerous means.’

In France, Tesla’s sales plummeted by 45 per cent in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year. 

The vehicles were found with broken wing mirrors, smashed windows and bodywork dents outside a electric car showroom in Belfast.

Police first received reports about the vandalised Teslas earlier this month. 

Drone images of the Rome fire showed the burnt-out remains of cars lined up in a parking lot, with two rows of vehicles back-to-back and a third row some distance away

A drone view shows charred Tesla vehicles in Rome on March 31

Firefighter can be seen trying to put out a fire at the Tesla dealership in Rome

The fire brigade said in a statement that the blaze broke out at around 4.30am

The dealership was partially damaged, but nobody was injured

Officials added that they were exploring ‘all avenues’ in their investigation into the cause of the fire

Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries, 

A burnt out vehicle with a broken rear window at a vandalised Tesla car dealership

Burned Tesla cars are seen at a dealership on the outskirts of Rome

In a statement on March 17, Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: ‘The damage is believed to have occurred at some point in the last 24 hours.

‘Approximately 20 vehicles have been targeted. Most have had their wing mirrors knocked off, while others have also had windows smashed or received dents to the bodywork.

‘Inquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.’

Officers have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with information about the vandalism to come forward.

In the United States, Molotov cocktails have been thrown at cars and Tesla charging stations have been destroyed.