Tesla Booted from Vancouver International Auto Show over Safety Concerns

Tesla was removed from the Vancouver International Auto Show this week due to safety concerns, according to event organisers. Despite being given multiple opportunities to voluntarily withdraw, Tesla was ultimately excluded from the event to ensure the safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff, an auto show spokesperson confirmed.

The auto show, which kicks off on Wednesday, is one of Canada’s most significant automotive events and previously attracted a record-breaking 130,000 visitors last year. Tesla has yet to respond to CNN’s request for comment regarding its removal from the show.

The company has faced growing protests across both the United States and Canada. Just this week, authorities reported that a person dressed in black set fire to multiple Tesla vehicles at a repair facility in Las Vegas. The incident is currently under investigation by the FBI as a possible act of domestic terrorism.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk himself has drawn significant criticism in Canada after a controversial social media post last month. Writing on his platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk claimed that “Canada is not a real country.” His remarks sparked a widespread backlash, including a petition demanding the removal of his Canadian passport and citizenship, which has garnered more than 375,000 signatures.

Musk, who was born in South Africa, obtained his Canadian citizenship as a teenager through his mother, Maye Musk, who was born in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Tesla’s removal from the Vancouver auto show comes at a time when the company is already dealing with declining sales and increased market competition. The company recently reported its first-ever drop in annual sales, signalling trouble as rivals continue to gain traction in the electric vehicle market.

The resale value of pre-owned Teslas is also plummeting. Research from CarGurus shows that while used car prices have fallen 2.7% year-over-year, used Tesla prices have declined by 7.3%, more than double the industry average.

Tesla’s future remains uncertain as the company battles financial struggles, political controversies, and increasing consumer backlash.
Source: CNN
Image: Fox Business