Tesla’s standoff with local authorities over whether they would shut down operations is only the latest example of their cavalier attitude towards authority. Tesla has also ignored autopilot safety recommendations from the NHTSA which were made after two previous fatal auto accidents. It also appears that Musk continues to ignore an SEC ruling that he is prohibited from tweeting information that is of a material nature towards earnings without being approved first by the board of directors. Local authorities from all over the country continue to petition Tesla for access to information on Tesla servers that could help them investigate auto accidents. All ignored by Tesla.
Whether or not you even believe that the Coronavirus threat is real is besides the point when it comes to Tesla shutting down their operations. The local government mandated that all non-essential business operations were to cease. The real issue at hand is Tesla’s corporate character. Would they be a good corporate citizen and try to join the effort? Or is it looking out for #1 as usual?
Compare Tesla to a company like Apple which, without being told, shut down all of their Apple Stores and gave employees all of the sick time that they might need if they feel ill. And it wasn’t just Apple. Every major automaker shut down their plants. Tesla, on the other hand, refused to shut down and told employees that they’d need to use their vacation time to stay home. And if they didn’t have enough vacation time, they would borrow from their future vacation.
All from a company that just raised $2 Billion in capital only a couple weeks prior. Either Tesla has ample liquidity or they don’t. They are acting as if they don’t. But in a crisis like this, money is a secondary issue.
Adding insult to injury. Musk flew in just before Monday after his infamous “I’ll personally be at work” tweet. And then he promptly flew out a few hours later. Leaving his employees to cough on another in their little Petri dish. I suppose getting sick is for the little people.
Adding insult to injury. Musk flew in just before Monday after his infamous “I’ll personally be at work” tweet. And then he promptly flew out a few hours later. Leaving his employees to cough on another in their little Petri dish. I suppose getting sick is for the little people.
Tesla is an example of everything that is wrong in American business. They are anti-capitalist and scofflaws. But the odd thing is, they actively pursue subsidies from the government for their products. They benefit from “green” regulations which penalize other car companies. Tesla actively thwarts the capitalist system of free competition for unfair advantage at every turn. Mainly because most people don’t want electric cars.
Tesla has finally relented on their refusal to shut down after “negotiations” with the local authorities. However, they will be allowed to operate until March 23rd. I’m amazed that there were even negotiations. In my view, the sheriff’s department should have arrested the highest-ranking Tesla officer onsite for obstruction of justice.
You’d think that a company which has benefitted greatly from government subsidies and green regulations would respect the hand that feeds it? Well, you’d be wrong.
It’s time for the hammer of justice to fall on Tesla. And hard. This company has bitten the government’s hand by ignoring all mandates. They’ve bitten their customer’s hand by selling unsafe cars which are sub-standard quality. They’ve bitten their Investors’ hand by fraudulently releasing information to manipulate the stock price. They’ve bitten their employee’s hand by forcing them to work in unsafe conditions. And finally, they’ve bitten the world public’s hand, by unleashing their unsafe autopilot software which shares the road with the families of non-Tesla customers.
But what about Musks offer to build ventilators? Would Tesla apologists offer this as some sort of defense? Actually, it has been a habit of Musk to jump on just about every major news story to get free publicity. He offered to solve Puerto Rico’s electricity problems. He offered to solve Flint Michigan’s contaminated water problem. He offered to build a mini-sub to save the trapped Thai soccer team. All empty promises. Prediction: Tesla wont build a single ventilator but will ask for subsidies.
Tesla has finally relented on their refusal to shut down after “negotiations” with the local authorities. However, they will be allowed to operate until March 23rd. I’m amazed that there were even negotiations. In my view, the sheriff’s department should have arrested the highest-ranking Tesla officer onsite for obstruction of justice.
You’d think that a company which has benefitted greatly from government subsidies and green regulations would respect the hand that feeds it? Well, you’d be wrong.
It’s time for the hammer of justice to fall on Tesla. And hard. This company has bitten the government’s hand by ignoring all mandates. They’ve bitten their customer’s hand by selling unsafe cars which are sub-standard quality. They’ve bitten their Investors’ hand by fraudulently releasing information to manipulate the stock price. They’ve bitten their employee’s hand by forcing them to work in unsafe conditions. And finally, they’ve bitten the world public’s hand, by unleashing their unsafe autopilot software which shares the road with the families of non-Tesla customers.
But what about Musks offer to build ventilators? Would Tesla apologists offer this as some sort of defense? Actually, it has been a habit of Musk to jump on just about every major news story to get free publicity. He offered to solve Puerto Rico’s electricity problems. He offered to solve Flint Michigan’s contaminated water problem. He offered to build a mini-sub to save the trapped Thai soccer team. All empty promises. Prediction: Tesla wont build a single ventilator but will ask for subsidies.
It’s well past time that the authorities stop putting up with the shenanigans from Tesla. Other companies and CEOs are watching. Either Tesla is dealt with or this behavior will propagate.
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