Police investigate after more than a dozen Teslas burned in Rome

Italian police are investigating a possible arson attack after more than a dozen Tesla cars were burned at a dealership at the edge of the capital early on Monday morning.

A total of 17 cars were damaged in the fire after a blaze was reported around 4:30 am, Italian news agency Ansa reported. No injuries were reported.

It appears to be the latest in a series of incidents targeting Elon Musk’s electric car manufacturer. Police on Saturday were investigating a fire that destroyed seven Teslas in northwestern Germany.

The FBI last week launched a task force to tackle what it described as “domestic terrorism” targeting the Tesla showrooms and vehicles, as reports of vandalism escalated.

The company has become a target as Musk leads the Trump administration’s divisive drive to slash the federal government’s workforce and purge federal agencies through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Last Saturday saw the growing anti-Tesla movement stage its largest protest yet, with “Tesla Takedown” demonstrations held outside more than 200 cities around the world, with the bulk in the US. Many of the movement’s supporters have called for protests to remain peaceful.

European sales of Tesla electric vehicles dropped 49% in the first two months of the year compared with the same period last year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.

Musk was widely condemned in Europe after he endorsed Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party during the country’s election last month.

Euronews contacted Tesla and the Rome police headquarters for comment.