Tesla is going through tough times due to the close ties of Elon Musk, the CEO of the electric vehicle brand, with U.S. President Donald Trump. Now, it has been excluded from the Vancouver International Auto Show in Canada, which takes place from March 19 to 23, in an unprecedented situation.
The issue at hand is the safety of the participants and exhibitors at the show, as the organization argues that the recent protests in Canada against the 25% tariffs imposed by Trump on imports from that country, along with public threats of annexation of Canada, put Tesla in a complicated position considering Musk’s proximity to the new U.S. administration.
It is worth noting that recently Tesla has been the target of protests outside its dealerships in Canada, and in addition, its vehicles have been excluded from electric mobility incentive programs due to the “trade war” between the U.S. and Canada.
“The primary concern of the Vancouver Auto Show is the safety of its participants, exhibitors, and staff.” said the event’s executive director, Eric Nicholl. “This decision will ensure that all participants can focus on enjoying the many positive aspects of the event.”
The same official also mentioned that Tesla had several opportunities to voluntarily withdraw from the event, which did not happen, leading the organization to decide to exclude the brand due to concerns that are “totally inclusive”, including the prospect of protests and vandalism against Elon Musk’s brand.
