Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla, has made a decisive response following reports of Tesla owners receiving menacing correspondence from people who harbor a resentment toward Musk. To counter these threats, his simplistic reprisal was, ‘Proceed, and face the consequences’. The political leanings of Musk have progressed, painting him in a different light. His camaraderie with the incoming President has ruffled feathers amongst his primary customer base, environmentally mindful liberals. This ideological clash has provoked intimidation toward not just Musk, but also those driving his visionary electric automobiles.
A particular incident involved a Tesla owner residing in Portland, who disclosed a daunting message received from a fellow resident. This note, discovered attached on his Tesla Model Y, contained a veiled threat. The neighbor’s words encapsulated their concern for the safety of the Tesla owner’s vehicle alluding to recent political developments. There wasn’t a clear threat but insinuations of potential harm due to the vehicle’s infamous creator’s political inclinations.
In the note, the neighbor relayed their fear that the car could become a target for vandalism or something worse. They attributed this apprehension to the unique mindset of some Portland locals and the potential for them to cause disruption. The author of the note expressed distress over the hearsay of Teslas being specifically targeted, sharing their anxiety about the likely undue hardship to their fellow Portlandians.
The note proceeded to demonstrate an understanding of the inconvenience that vehicle vandalism could present, exemplified by the imagery of a broken window or a flat tire. It ended on a hopeful note, expressing that these undue threats may perhaps be unfounded. Yet, as a gesture of caution, the worried neighbor felt compelled to append a list of alternate electric vehicles within the note.
The included list suggested other EV brands like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, Honda Prologue, Audi Q4 E-Tron, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Hyundai Kona Electric, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Toyota bZ4X, and Chevrolet Equinox EV. A disparity from the leading brand, Tesla, these suggestions underline the palpable distaste held by the note’s author towards Musk and his products.
The negative sentiment expressed towards Tesla naturally elicited disappointment from Elon Musk and the dedicated Tesla community. Yet, the Chief of Tesla adopted a defiant stance concerning the situation. In addressing the reported threat, Musk issued a resounding warning, implying that anyone who damages a Tesla product will consequently have a criminal record.
In his conjecture, he confidently stated, ‘Proceed to inflict damage, and carry a criminal mark…’ This defiance could simply highlight the enforcement of existing laws against vandalism. Alternatively, it might imply a heavier intention of utilizing his influence to take legal action against any individual who poses a threat to the commodities stemming from his company.
An interesting observation within this discourse is the demographic evolution of the Tesla consumer base over recent years. The act of purchasing a Tesla vehicle has always carried a notable political undertone. However, this political association has dramatically swiveled, making ownership of these innovative cars an entirely different controversy. Messaged threats, eco-political shifts, and alternative EVs form an intriguing backdrop to this narrative.