aOur children moved out, and my wife and I treated ourselves to a new car for our upcoming driving vacation in Europe. We had been driving family cars with the kids for years, but now we wanted something just for us.
To my surprise, she arranged a test drive for my birthday in a Tesla Model S. It was unlike any car I had ever experienced. “Amazing, this is amazing.” It felt like the future with a computer on the steering wheel that constantly updated with new features. However, opinions seem to have changed since then, as Tesla’s sales dropped by 13% in the first few months of the year. There have even been protests against Elon Musk and his actions outside Tesla facilities around the world.
Despite concerns about charging infrastructure, we found Tesla’s network to be exceptional. We traveled all over Europe, even fitting five adults and all our luggage in the car. As someone who wanted to move away from diesel and gasoline, the environmentally friendly electric vehicle was a perfect fit for us.
My political views leaned left, but owning a Tesla was never intended to be a political statement for us. Little did we know how our choices would later become politicized.
Initially, I tried to ignore the negative opinions about Elon Musk, but as his political stances became more apparent, it became harder to overlook. Many Tesla owners also began feeling uncomfortable with the association and started expressing their concerns online.
Protesters demonstrating against Tesla CEO Elon Musk during the national Tesla Takedown Rally outside dealers in Pasadena, California. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
With the growing concerns and price drops in the second-hand market, my daughter suggested selling the Tesla. However, I feel stuck as it has been a perfect fit for our lifestyle in every other aspect. Maybe I’ll consider a European electric car for our next purchase.
Source: www.theguardian.com
