A fire broke out early Monday at a Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) dealership in Rome, damaging 17 vehicles and partially destroying the building. Local firefighters responded at 4:30 a.m. in the Torre Angela district. No injuries were reported. While the cause remains unconfirmed, Italian media say arson is one of the scenarios under investigation.
The Rome incident adds fuel to a growing pattern of anti-Tesla vandalism in Europe and beyond. Elon Musknow serving as a senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump and openly backing far-right parties in Europehas become a lightning rod for controversy. That political spotlight is now casting shadows over Tesla's physical assets, from dealerships to charging stations.
For investors, this raises more than just security concerns. Europe is a key battleground for EV growth, and Tesla's brand equity could take a hit if these incidents persist. Tesla has down 5.4% at 7.12am in the premarket trading, any further escalationor evidence of targeted attackscould pressure sentiment further, especially in politically sensitive markets.
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