A massive fire broke out at a Tesla dealership on the outskirts of Rome early Monday, resulting in the destruction of at least 17 electric vehicles and causing significant damage to the facility, local authorities confirmed.
The fire, which started at approximately 4:30 AM local time (0230 GMT), quickly spread through the dealership, prompting an immediate response from firefighters and law enforcement officials.
Despite the swift efforts of emergency responders, the fire engulfed 17 Tesla vehicles in the showroom, damaging parts of the dealership’s structure. The Rome fire brigade reported that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire, with arson being one of the possible explanations.
“We cannot rule out any possibility at this stage, including arson,” a spokesperson from the fire brigade stated. Authorities are currently reviewing footage from at least seven surveillance cameras and analyzing the aftermath to gather further evidence. The cause of the fire remains uncertain, but officials have emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation to determine whether foul play was involved.
Local media have speculated that the fire may have been deliberately set, possibly in connection with anarchist protests. This incident follows a separate attack on a Tesla facility in Germany earlier this month. On March 5, an environmental extremist group known as the “Volcano Group” claimed responsibility for an arson attack on an electric transformer station near Tesla’s Berlin gigafactory. That fire led to a widespread power outage and forced the evacuation of factory workers.
The Tesla fire in Rome has raised concerns about the growing number of attacks targeting the electric vehicle manufacturer. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been at the center of controversy in Europe, especially after publicly expressing support for Germany’s far-right political party AFD. Additionally, Musk’s close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has announced and is expected to impose further tariffs on European trade partners, have added to the political tensions surrounding Tesla’s operations in Europe.
Authorities continue to assess the damage caused by the fire, and investigators are working to determine whether the incident was an isolated event or part of a larger pattern of attacks against Tesla properties. Meanwhile, Tesla has yet to release an official statement regarding the Rome fire.