Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty
A number of families of Tesla crash victims have banded together and signed a joint letter raising concerns about Elon Musk's place in the company.
As well as being the owner of X and CEO of SpaceX, the tech billionaire still retains his position as Tesla CEO - despite also heading up the government's Department of Government Efficiency.
Although Musk's role as the head of the DOGE makes him a 'special government employee' rather than an elected official, the backlash against his cuts to the federal spend have spilled over into Telsa
It's no coincidence that Elon Musk stepping up with the DOGE coincides with Tesla stocks plummeting. As well as wiping $800 billion of its market cap, Musk lost a jaw-dropping $29 billion in a single day.
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President Donald Trump has tried to sweep the increasing Tesla boycott under the rug, even turning the front of the White House into his own Tesla showroom and stumping up for a brand-new Tesla Model S. This caused a stir in itself, especially remembering the Model S has had 37 safety recalls.
Even though Tesla saw a brief uptick in Tesla stocks, boycotts, vandalism, and even bullets being fired at Tesla dealerships continue to paint the EV brand in a negative light.
Things are only getting worse, as the families of seven people who were seriously injured or killed in Tesla incidents involving self-driving technology have written to the Transportation Department.
As noted by Politico, the letter calls for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to address the potential involvement of the Trump administration in the running of Tesla.
Their concerns include the idea that the POTUS could repeal a rule that requires automobile companies to report crashes that involve advanced driver assistance technologies and automated driving systems: "We are deeply concerned that NHTSA’s oversight of autonomous vehicle (AV) systems may be weakened.
"We fear this important measure is under threat given recent media reports and the influence of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose company operates the most widely used [advanced driver assistance technologies] in America."
Tesla has to answer to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which still has powers to recall vehicles. It's reported that several NHTSA employees have been culled by Elon Musk's brutal cull of probationary employees, and although there are plans to bring them back, the Department of Transportation is bracing for more layoffs.
It's true that Tesla's 'Full Self Driving' system was scrutinized under the Biden Administration, whereas there were earlier reports that Trump’s transition team were looking at removing the crash report requirements.
The signatories write: "The deaths of our loved ones were preventable. As Secretary, you have the power to ensure these tragedies are not repeated. By maintaining strong federal safeguards, you can prevent more families from having to face the same heartbreak we have endured."
A Department of Transportation spokesperson reiterated that Duffy's "heart goes out to the victims’ families, and he takes their concerns seriously."
It concluded: "As the Secretary made clear during his confirmation hearing, he is committed to allowing NHTSA’s investigators to follow the evidence and operate objectively...
"The agency will continue to enforce the law on all manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment in accordance with the Vehicle Safety Act and the agency’s data-driven, risk-based investigative process."
