I occasionally visit the Reddit EV forum , which frequently includes threads that visitors of CleanTechnica might find interesting. I recently came upon one created by Mixima101 with the fascinating moniker “ Tesla Is Off My List .” This is what they said to start that conversation:
“I believe Teslas to be the best EVs currently available, and I like what they have done to revolutionize the auto business. Since the release of the model 3, I’ve been eager to buy one. Having said that, after Elon Musk’s remarks on Ukraine, I have decided to purchase any EV that isn’t a Tesla. Although I’ve always been conflicted about him, this was the tipping point. I would rather not support him than buy a worse car. Polestar, indeed.
That is obviously controversial, so I followed through and was shocked to see that 2,484 comments had been made beneath the brief note. It was obvious that the thread had touched a nerve with many people. Here is a sample of some of the remarks.
The majority of CEOs maintain a low profile and often confine their public pronouncements to material that is pertinent to their companies, according to Snoo74401. My model Y order was canceled. It was scheduled to come in December or January. I don’t want to support Musk’s businesses or have anything to do with him in any way.
80 lol alex — “Yes, the majority of CEOs are aware that the stock price is affected by every word they say. and have the PR staff and business lawyers thoroughly examine their statements. What? Tesla no longer has a PR division.
Alex Kelly – “When I once mentioned that Musk’s actions prevented me from purchasing a Tesla, I received a lot of “what abouts” from other CEOs. The problem is that Musk has made it obvious that he wants to be seen as the public face of Tesla. Many people think that if they see someone driving a Tesla, they like or are fans of Elon Musk. Nobody ever looks at a Bolt and says, “Wow, they must really adore Mary Barra.
If I didn’t already have my model 3 and solar power, Intrepid-Leather-417 said, “I would be thinking about the competition. His antics and persistent craving for attention are getting old on me.
Candelent: “Equal. I cherish my automobile. Additionally, Elon is not represented by the vast majority of Tesla employees. At this point, I would really prefer to see Tesla continue without Elon. But since he owns and controls it, it’s unlikely that will happen soon.
“Having some inside information about Elon, I also know that he is impetuous, doesn’t give a rip about the stock price, and is probably gravely concerned about nuclear war. He believes himself to be the world’s savior and suffers from a deity complex. He is so, so wrong about Ukraine, holy f*ck, though.
me too. — Comeradenook My M3 is great—the car, the software, the network—everything. But Tesla’s reputation would be in a much better place if Elon would simply shut the f*ck up.
THE TESLA IMPLICATION Editor’s note: There are a lot of cleantech enthusiasts posting on CleanTechnica, and they have a wide range of perspectives. We strive to not limit the views of our multicultural writers because we support free speech, the idea that a website like this can serve as a forum for people with similar but occasionally divergent viewpoints. Steve’s opinion on Elon Musk and Tesla is shown here. Other authors might feel very differently about the matter, while others might totally concur with him. Whatever your position, it’s important to recognize that many Tesla shareholders and owners, including Steve, are dealing with the problems discussed here. In my honest opinion, it is more unproductive than not to simply block or restrict (or “cancel,” as they say these days) individuals or websites because they share this widely held stance.
I drive a Model Y Tesla. I also have a small number of Tesla shares. For the past 12 years, I have been publishing articles about the EV revolution. Speaking for myself, I can say that I am no longer as enthused about Elon Musk as I once was. He was an innovator back then. He was going to personally construct underground transit networks, put an end to traffic fatalities, and guide the globe toward a zero-carbon future.
But he just seems out of it more and more. He most likely has been, but we overlooked it because he was doing such outstanding work. He spends far too much time these days reading his own press releases and addressing the wall mirror with the question, “Who’s the fairest of them all?”
He once threw a fuss when a Fremont health inspector tried to perform her job, but he has never, ever complained about Shanghai authorities who forced him to close his production for more than a month. That, in my perspective, makes him a hypocrite. He has a tendency to belittle the weak while praising despots, which worries me.
The attitude of “go around and break things,” which pervaded the tech industry for so long, has long since lost its allure. It’s time for Elon to leave the company in the hands of capable managers. Today, every company places a high value on its reputation. Elon is increasingly damaging his firms’ reputations now.
COMMENT ABOUT WHAT YOU FEEL Elon is a lightening rod, no doubt about it. Most readers have probably formed an opinion about him. Please feel free to discuss your ideas in the comments area with us and other CleanTechnica readers.
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