Tesla electric car sales plunge again in Australia – Model 3 down more than 81 p

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Musk, Tesla, Starlink as Geopolitical & Security Risks

  • Some argue Teslas and Starlink are systemic risks to democracies, proposing tariffs, punitive registrations, and bans on supplying training data to xAI.
  • Concerns include:
    • Always‑connected cars with cameras/microphones as potential surveillance tools.
    • Starlink’s central role in Ukraine giving one US businessman leverage to cut or shape connectivity, including allegations of blocking or refusing service for Ukrainian operations.
    • Fear that a US government aligned with Russia could pressure Starlink to withdraw or manipulate service and traffic.
  • Others counter that:
    • Starlink has been critical for Ukraine, remote areas, and disaster zones, and that stories of shutdowns are disputed or hypothetical.
    • Alternative providers (e.g., European satellite operators) exist and are expanding coverage, weakening the “no alternative” argument.
  • There’s broad skepticism about Musk’s motives, use of public subsidies, and potential future monetization of data and access.

Tesla Sales Collapse: Market Dynamics vs. Musk Factor

  • In Australia, commenters see:
    • EV sales overall up or stable, but Tesla sales plunging, suggesting brand-specific issues.
    • Cheap Chinese EVs (BYD, MG, others) dominating due to lower prices; Tesla positioned as a luxury brand.
    • Some demand shift toward SUVs and ICE vehicles, but not enough to explain Tesla’s outsized drop.
  • Similar patterns are noted in Europe and China: overall EV growth with Tesla losing share, often sharply.
  • Multiple posters believe Musk’s politics and public behavior are actively toxic for the brand, with buyers avoiding Teslas and even fearing vandalism.

Shareholder Power, Governance, and Legal Limits

  • Several discuss whether shareholders could or should sue over Musk’s impact.
  • Responses emphasize:
    • Breach‑of‑fiduciary‑duty suits are hard to win; more realistic levers are proxy fights or selling the stock.
    • Tesla’s governance is seen as weak, with a loyal board and poor ESG governance scores.
    • Some think courts, especially in the US, are unlikely to constrain Musk meaningfully; others point to potential pressure from non‑US jurisdictions.

Technology (FSD) vs. Reputation

  • A few owners praise current FSD as “mostly competent” and uniquely convenient; others call it immature and dangerous at “95% reliability.”
  • Competing autonomy systems from Chinese and other manufacturers are mentioned as catching up or outperforming, further eroding Tesla’s differentiation.