17 Vehicles Destroyed, Anti-Terrorism Investigation into Arson Attack at Tesla Showroom in Rome

【PCauto】In the early hours of March 31 local time, a Tesla showroom on the outskirts of Rome, Italy, was engulfed in flames, resulting in at least 17 electric vehicles being burned and varying degrees of structural damage to the building. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The Italian anti-terror police unit, Digos, has launched an investigation, initially suspecting that the nighttime fire may have been a deliberate act of arson by a group of anarchists.

The fire broke out around 4:30 AM local time, and firefighters and police responded swiftly, arriving on the scene promptly. However, due to the rapid spread of the flames, all 17 vehicles inside the showroom were unable to be saved and were completely destroyed. A spokesperson for the Rome fire department stated that they are exploring all possible avenues to determine the cause of the fire and have not ruled out the possibility of arson, saying, “All possibilities are under investigation.” Police have arrived at the scene to assist firefighters, interviewing the dealership owner and reviewing surveillance footage.

Tesla Italy has also stated that they are fully cooperating with the police investigation and have handed over surveillance video of the vehicles, which can operate even when the cars are turned off. Tesla founder Elon Musk responded on social media, claiming that the arson was a terrorist act.

Notably, this is not the first time Tesla has faced such incidents in Italy recently. In the past few weeks, reports have surfaced of Tesla vehicles being vandalized and defaced, with graffiti expressing opposition to Elon Musk and Donald Trump spray-painted on the car bodies. Just a week prior, a fire at a car dealership in northern Rome destroyed 30 vehicles, including used Teslas. Initially, the fire was attributed to electrical faults, though the investigation is ongoing.

Globally, incidents of arson and vandalism targeting Tesla have been on the rise in recent months. From late March 26 to early March 27, 12 Tesla charging stations in a supermarket parking lot in Saint-Chamond, Loire, France, were set on fire, with two stations completely destroyed, and anti-Tesla slogans found at the scene. On March 29, a Tesla dealership in northwest Germany also experienced a fire, destroying seven vehicles, with German police investigating whether it was deliberate. In the United States, several Tesla stores have seen peaceful protests, with demonstrators calling for Elon Musk’s resignation.

Western media analyses suggest that Musk's implementation of large-scale layoffs under the authorization of U.S. President Donald Trump, along with his public support for Europe’s far-right parties, has sparked widespread dissatisfaction, negatively impacting his businesses. The recent arson attack on the Tesla showroom in Rome has once again thrust Tesla and Musk into the media spotlight, with ongoing investigations and the developments of this event drawing significant public attention.