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I'm from Germany. When I bought my model 3 three years ago, I was amongst the first to have a Tesla in my (small) city. I bought it because I wanted an EV, and

I'm from Germany. When I bought my model 3 three years ago, I was amongst the first to have a Tesla in my (small) city. I bought it because I wanted an EV, and Tesla was the only one you could actually buy instead of having to wait for your car being delivered months or years later. Then, for a long time when I stopped at a Supercharger, every conversation went like this: "TeslateslateslateslaTesla!". If I stop at a charger today, where both Teslas and other EVs are parking, you typically hear the Tesla people apologize in shame. "I bought it before Elon became crazy", "Yes, I have looked at the hyundai, too!" etc. In the US I think it is very common these days to deal with very powerful people who are VERY crazy. So it has become normalized and no longer appears to be a concern. I'm also part of a very big fan German Tesla online fan forum. Mentioning Elon is now banned there. And "In MY tesla the windscreen wipers really work now!" these days will get you a request for a video proof. Over here, people have shame. They don't want that anyone associates them with a psychopath. I still like my M3. Not because it does what was advertised (it does not), but because I like the nerd humor in it and the acceleration. But: I have a M3 because I bought it before Elon turned bat shit crazy, so next car will be a Hyundai. There I don't know anything about the founder or CEO, and he probably will never push himself into my daily newsfeed, and I like that idea.

UncleOxidant 2y ago
> In the US I think it is very common these days to deal with very powerful people who are VERY crazy. So it has become normalized and no longer appears to be a concern. I think a lot of potential Tesla customers in the US have been put off by Musk's behavior. There are even bumper stickers for Tesla owners that say something to the effect of "I bought it before I knew he was crazy".
brink 2y ago
Why do you think Elon is crazy?
- Fischgericht 2y ago
  As a person on the autistic spectrum and with a narcissistic personality disorder I would give this planet the following advice: Don't make one of us the richest and most powerful person in the world. You will come to regret it.
the_biot 2y ago
This really doesn't get expressed enough IMHO: Musk is a liability to Tesla at this point, and obviously unfit to lead the company. Of course if he gets fired and the drama/fanboyism stops, what's left is a car company that is losing market share, with shitty cars rapidly becoming obsolete compared to the competition. So I don't expect shareholders to act.
- Fischgericht 2y ago
  To cut them some slack: There are German car manufacturers who have the nerve to in 2024 release new models that do not even have a heat pump build in. When it came to the actual EV technology, Tesla really had the lead. But they stopped innovating in this area, sadly. Now you are seeing the first 800V vehicles driving around, and suddenly charging at a Supercharger does no longer feel Super. If they'd change direction and immediately focus on what they are good at, they might stand a chance. But thanks to Elon it's become a huge circus of one distraction after another. In Europe for a complex set of reasons car manufacturers tend to put out SUV designs only, while most potential EV buyers want SMALL cars. The "model 2" (or whatever it would have been called) would have beat German car manufacturers here easily. Cancelling this project and to instead launch the Cybertruck... lunacy.
  - pornel 2y ago
    To be fair, they have a brand new 800V architecture now, pioneered a 48V low-voltage system, and are among the first to have steer by wire. The problem is that these improvements landed in a car that is a symbol of a very public mid-life crisis.
    - Fischgericht 2y ago
      Oh, I wasn't aware they have a 800V design in the Cybertruck. What a waste of potential and engineering resources...
  - rsynnott 2y ago
    > There are German car manufacturers who have the nerve to in 2024 release new models that do not even have a heat pump build in. I mean, yeah, you can get a trim without a heat pump. And if you live somewhere with mild weather, then you should probably do that, as the heat pump's contribution to range will not be significant, and it's extra cost and maintenance vs resistive heating. > In Europe for a complex set of reasons car manufacturers tend to put out SUV designs only My neighbour's id.3 must be imaginary.
verallgemeinern 2y ago
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qwerpy 2y ago
I don’t think it’s a shame thing. It’s just that some of us don’t care to partake in the American culture wars. Especially us Asians. We don’t tend to use Reddit or X or read that much Western news media, which relentlessly push the anti-Elon opinions. That’s why almost every Asian family I know drives an X or Y, and will continue doing so as long as the cars are still good.
- Fischgericht 2y ago
  They don't have to push "Anti-Elon" opinions. It's more than enough, FAR more than enough to simply quote what Elon is writing on "X" in verbatim. But where I agree: Tesla's image and stock sure would be in better shape if nobody would publish what Elon says at all. But here is the problem: He bought a social media company due to his narcissism. Again, I'm from Germany. Yes, it's relevant to the news here if the (ex) richest person on the planet is spewing conspiracy theories and bullshit that quite often in some form or another feels like praise for the Nazis, and support for the Neo-Nazis. Those in my country who may actually like his positions typically are not able to afford a Tesla, so at least when it comes to Germany and a couple of our neighboring countries who also aren't exactly in the Hitler fan camp, all in all that's just not a very good marketing strategy when it comes to Europe. :)
arresin 2y ago
It’s interesting to see the interplay of cultures here. On the one hand you have the ultra conformist German (die welt says elon musk is bad now so you must apologise for driving his cars) and the ultra individualist American (musk).

UncleOxidant 2y ago

> In the US I think it is very common these days to deal with very powerful people who are VERY crazy. So it has become normalized and no longer appears to be a concern. I think a lot of potential Tesla customers in the US have been put off by Musk's behavior. There are even bumper stickers for Tesla owners that say something to the effect of "I bought it before I knew he was crazy".

brink 2y ago

Why do you think Elon is crazy?

Fischgericht 2y ago
As a person on the autistic spectrum and with a narcissistic personality disorder I would give this planet the following advice: Don't make one of us the richest and most powerful person in the world. You will come to regret it.

the_biot 2y ago

This really doesn't get expressed enough IMHO: Musk is a liability to Tesla at this point, and obviously unfit to lead the company. Of course if he gets fired and the drama/fanboyism stops, what's left is a car company that is losing market share, with shitty cars rapidly becoming obsolete compared to the competition. So I don't expect shareholders to act.

Fischgericht 2y ago
To cut them some slack: There are German car manufacturers who have the nerve to in 2024 release new models that do not even have a heat pump build in. When it came to the actual EV technology, Tesla really had the lead. But they stopped innovating in this area, sadly. Now you are seeing the first 800V vehicles driving around, and suddenly charging at a Supercharger does no longer feel Super. If they'd change direction and immediately focus on what they are good at, they might stand a chance. But thanks to Elon it's become a huge circus of one distraction after another. In Europe for a complex set of reasons car manufacturers tend to put out SUV designs only, while most potential EV buyers want SMALL cars. The "model 2" (or whatever it would have been called) would have beat German car manufacturers here easily. Cancelling this project and to instead launch the Cybertruck... lunacy.
- pornel 2y ago
  To be fair, they have a brand new 800V architecture now, pioneered a 48V low-voltage system, and are among the first to have steer by wire. The problem is that these improvements landed in a car that is a symbol of a very public mid-life crisis.
  - Fischgericht 2y ago
    Oh, I wasn't aware they have a 800V design in the Cybertruck. What a waste of potential and engineering resources...
- rsynnott 2y ago
  > There are German car manufacturers who have the nerve to in 2024 release new models that do not even have a heat pump build in. I mean, yeah, you can get a trim without a heat pump. And if you live somewhere with mild weather, then you should probably do that, as the heat pump's contribution to range will not be significant, and it's extra cost and maintenance vs resistive heating. > In Europe for a complex set of reasons car manufacturers tend to put out SUV designs only My neighbour's id.3 must be imaginary.

verallgemeinern 2y ago

[dead]

qwerpy 2y ago

I don’t think it’s a shame thing. It’s just that some of us don’t care to partake in the American culture wars. Especially us Asians. We don’t tend to use Reddit or X or read that much Western news media, which relentlessly push the anti-Elon opinions. That’s why almost every Asian family I know drives an X or Y, and will continue doing so as long as the cars are still good.

Fischgericht 2y ago
They don't have to push "Anti-Elon" opinions. It's more than enough, FAR more than enough to simply quote what Elon is writing on "X" in verbatim. But where I agree: Tesla's image and stock sure would be in better shape if nobody would publish what Elon says at all. But here is the problem: He bought a social media company due to his narcissism. Again, I'm from Germany. Yes, it's relevant to the news here if the (ex) richest person on the planet is spewing conspiracy theories and bullshit that quite often in some form or another feels like praise for the Nazis, and support for the Neo-Nazis. Those in my country who may actually like his positions typically are not able to afford a Tesla, so at least when it comes to Germany and a couple of our neighboring countries who also aren't exactly in the Hitler fan camp, all in all that's just not a very good marketing strategy when it comes to Europe. :)

arresin 2y ago

It’s interesting to see the interplay of cultures here. On the one hand you have the ultra conformist German (die welt says elon musk is bad now so you must apologise for driving his cars) and the ultra individualist American (musk).