Tesla barred from Vancouver International Auto Show due to safety concerns
In a shocking turn of events, Tesla found itself on the sidelines of this week's Vancouver International Auto Show. Event organizers axed the Elon Musk-led company, citing safety concerns as the primary reason. A spokesperson for the show said, "Tesla was removed following multiple opportunities to voluntarily withdraw, with our audience's, exhibitors', and staff's safety being our top priority."
While Tesla's representatives haven't commented yet, the show kicks off on Wednesday—a time when the event hoped to draw another record-breaking 130,000 visitors.
With Tesla garnering public disdain in recent times, it's no surprise that the auto show bent the rules. Protest movements against Tesla have sprung up in cities across the US, Canada, and even Europe. Things took a dramatic turn on Tuesday when an arsonist torched several Tesla vehicles at a service center in Las Vegas. The FBI is now investigating the incident as a possible act of domestic terrorism.
Elon Musk's controversial comments and political alliances have also caused a stir. Last month, he dismissed Canada as a "not real country" on his social media platform, X, sparking a petition to revoke his passport and citizenship. Despite being born in South Africa, he gained Canadian citizenship through his mother, Maye Musk, who is a Saskatchewan-born native.
Meanwhile, Tesla's sales slump continues, thanks to increased competition and backlash against Musk's high-profile role in the Trump administration. In a first for the company, Tesla reported a drop in annual sales earlier this year. There are also indications that sales of its used cars are tumbling, with used Teslas selling for 7.3% less than last year.
Pre-owned Teslas are falling in price at rates more than double the industry average, according to research by CarGurus. In contrast, the overall market for used cars has shrunk by just 2.7% year over year.
The electric automaker appears to be stuck in a vicious cycle, struggling to keep its public image intact amid ongoing controversies. While Tesla maintains it's just about manufacturing electric cars, the negative sentiments directed towards the company suggest a far deeper, entangled issue at play. 🤔
[1] Tesla's Vancouver International Auto Show Exclusion: A Closer Look (CNN)[2] In Focus: Tesla's Declining Sales and Troubled Public Image (Automotive Business Network)[3] Tesla Under Fire: Protests, Incidents, and Controversies (Forbes)
- Despite Tesla's struggles with public image due to controversies surrounding Elon Musk's statements and political alliances, as well as an increase in competition, the average selling price of pre-owned Teslas is falling at rates more than double the industry average, according to CarGurus.
- The removal of Tesla from the Vancouver International Auto Show, over safety concerns, comes amid a series of incidents, including protests against Tesla in multiple cities and a possible act of domestic terrorism in Las Vegas where several Tesla vehicles were torched.
- In the wake of Tesla's exclusion from the Vancouver International Auto Show, Tesla's business in the city, along with its overall public image, may face further challenges, given the ongoing backlash against the company and its founder.
