by Billion Temesghen

Elon Musk's alignment with the Trump administration - which has launched tariffs on European goods and is alienating European Union (EU) allies on several international platforms - has further damaged Tesla's brand perception on the continent.

BRUSSELS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Italian authorities are investigating a suspected arson attack that destroyed 17 electric vehicles (EV) at a Tesla dealership on the outskirts of Rome early Monday, the latest in a series of incidents targeting the U.S. EV maker across Europe.

Despite a swift response from firefighters and police, the blaze quickly engulfed the dealership showroom, destroying vehicles and causing significant structural damage. Authorities are collecting evidence at the site. A spokesperson for the Rome fire brigade told Xinhua that arson cannot be ruled out as the cause.

The Rome incident comes amid a broader surge of vandalism and protest actions against Tesla facilities in Europe, fueled by growing criticism of Tesla CEO Elon Musk's political affiliations.

Musk has increasingly drawn attention in Europe for his public support of far-right parties, including Alternative for Germany (AfD). Ahead of the German national election earlier this year, Musk posted on the social media platform X, which he owns, that "only a far-right party can save Germany."

His alignment with the Trump administration - which has launched tariffs on European goods and is alienating the European Union (EU) allies on several international platforms - has further damaged Tesla's brand perception on the continent. Across Europe, protesters have vandalized Tesla showrooms and vehicles in acts seen as both political and symbolic.

On March 14, four Tesla vehicles were set on fire in Berlin. Police said a political motive could not be excluded, although no group has claimed responsibility. Just weeks earlier, on Feb. 27, a suspected arson attack occurred at a Tesla-related construction site in Berlin, with far-left activists opposing the company's local expansion reportedly taking responsibility.

These incidents followed a March 2024 attack when a far-left group calling itself "Vulkangruppe Tesla Abschalten" (Volcano Group Shutting Down Tesla) claimed responsibility for an arson attack on a power pylon near Tesla's Berlin gigafactory. The group said it aimed to halt Tesla's expansion, citing environmental and political concerns.

Tesla launched production at its first European gigafactory outside Berlin in 2022. By the end of 2023, the company announced plans to double production capacity to one million vehicles annually. Although the factory employs around 12,000 people, opposition has grown. Environmental protests and a non-binding community vote signaled local resistance to the project.

The backlash has not been limited to Germany. On March 29, demonstrators gathered outside a Tesla showroom in West London as part of a global 'anti-Musk' campaign dubbed "Takedown Tesla." Protesters accused Musk of promoting white supremacy, xenophobia, and misogyny.

Musk's political comments have extended beyond party endorsements. He recently suggested the United States should exit NATO, questioning the financial burden of defending Europe. The remarks echo U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of Europe's defense spending and have heightened concerns over transatlantic relations.

Amid rising tensions, Tesla's sales in Europe have suffered. While EV sales across the continent rose by 28.4 percent in the first two months of 2025, Tesla's sales fell by 49 percent during the same period, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.

As investigations into the Rome fire continue, the interplay between Musk's political engagements, public opinion, and Tesla's commercial performance remains under scrutiny. Though no direct link has been established to the recent acts of vandalism, the incidents in Rome and Germany underscore the consequences of the political controversy surrounding Musk and its impact on Tesla's global image.