The Italian interior ministry has issued a directive to bolster security measures at Tesla dealerships nationwide following a significant incident in Rome, where 17 Tesla vehicles, produced by Elon Musk’s company, were damaged in a fire. The police unit responsible for counter-terrorism, Hungary’s TÉV, is investigating the possibility that the destructive blaze at a Tesla dealership in Budapest, a suburb in the east of the city, may have been instigated by anarchist groups.

In response to the fire, which firefighters worked extensively to contain in the early hours of Tuesday, drone footage revealed the charred remains of the electric cars in the dealership’s parking lot. Through his social media platform X, Musk referred to the incident as an act of “terrorism.”

There are 13 Tesla dealerships in Italy, mostly located in Rome but also present in other major cities such as Florence and Milan, with all being managed by the parent company.

A source from the interior ministry stated that the directive aims to raise awareness regarding possible protests against Tesla amid a global wave of vandalism, which is believed to be linked to Musk’s political activities in the US. Increased surveillance of dealerships may be implemented if necessary to address the potential threats.

Musk, since his support for Donald Trump’s presidency in January, has been at the forefront of reducing the federal workforce as part of the so-called “department of government efficiency,” leading to the emergence of the “Tesla Takedown” movement, a boycott campaign that originated in the US before spreading across Europe.

While most of these protests have been peaceful, Tesla dealerships and vehicles have become more frequent targets for vandalism. In Germany, seven Tesla cars were set ablaze at a dealership, and in Sweden, two Tesla stores in Stockholm and Malmö were vandalized with orange paint.

Musk maintains close ties with several European far-right leaders, including Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who commended him as “a brilliant man” in a January interview. Matteo Salvini, the leader of the far-right League party, a member of Meloni’s ruling coalition, expressed his solidarity with Musk after the Rome incident.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/02/italian-police-increase-security-at-tesla-dealerships-after-17-cars-destroyed-in-rome-fire