In what appears to be a response to the heavy negative press surrounding Musk’s leadership of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the president announced on TruthSocial Tuesday morning his intention to purchase a Tesla, asserting that Musk “was ‘putting it all on the line’ for the good of our Nation, doing a FANTASTIC JOB! … I will be buying a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning to show my confidence and support for Elon Musk.”
During a White House showcase of the Cybertruck, the president declared that the 3.3-ton electric vehicle was “the coolest design.” However, given the truck’s apparent susceptibility to rust and the concerning fact that its multiple recalls have positioned it below 91 percent of all vehicles for 2024, it may be prudent that President Trump chose the Model S instead.
Nevertheless, the president’s selection has faced its own share of complications. The Model S has recorded 37 safety recalls through the NHTSA over its production run, with the most recent occurring in January, related to a potential malfunction of the “computer circuit board” that could cause a loss of the rearview camera image, heightening the risk of accidents.
Additional recalls for the Model S have involved issues with airbags, potential malfunctions in the power-steering assist feature, defective door handles, warped brake discs, and a 2023 voluntary recall affecting all Tesla vehicles equipped with the Full Self-Driving feature. According to the NHTSA’s filing at that time, these issues ranged from failing to stop at stop signs, speeding due to an inability to detect road signs or user-set speeds, and executing unexpected lane changes from turn-only lanes when proceeding straight through intersections.
It’s important to acknowledge, however, that as vehicles become increasingly sophisticated, the volume of automotive recalls across various brands has escalated in recent years, with notable increases seen in companies like Mercedes, General Motors, BMW, Chrysler, and Ford.
Musk will surely be banking on this emphatic presidential endorsement to counteract a concerning recent dip in sales for the brand. Data from Kelley Blue Book indicates that Tesla sold 43,650 electric vehicles in February, a decrease of nearly 6 percent from 46,262 sold in the same month last year. On a global scale, sales declines are significantly steeper, showing falls upwards of 75 percent in Europe and 65 percent in Australia for the first two months of the year. In contrast, the UK stands out as a market where Tesla’s February sales increased by 20 percent compared to the same month last year.
For some existing customers within the Tesla community, the embarrassment tied to the brand’s CEO—who has made controversial public gestures and supported the far-right political party Alternative for Germany—has become too great, leading some to rebrand their electric vehicles with insignias from competing companies.
