*This article is reproduced from the autocarweekly public account.

Author: Shu Shu

A Tesla owner once told me helplessly, “Some kids see your car and they’ll shout out loud that Tesla can’t stop.”

Psychologist Jung once said that the wavering of ideas is not between accuracy and ambiguity, but between rationality and irrationality. Tesla is the existence that stirs up thoughts.

On June 26, a news about Tesla’s recall of part of the imported and domestically produced Model 3 and domestically produced Model Y once again went viral.

Although the literal meaning is “part”, according to the report issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, there are more than 200,000 vehicles in total. Tesla subsequently responded that the recall could be completed online through OTA upgrades, which triggered criticism from netizens.

Recently, shares of CATL have risen sharply, but it has become a hot topic because of rumors that employees are required to buy Tesla, which has since been debunked. Among the series of Tesla brake incidents, the most severe one was the Shanghai Tesla stand rights protection event in April. After experiencing level one to level eight reversals, it still continues to play out new reversals on Douyin and Weibo.

You might think that the articles related to “Car owner wins rights protection case! Tesla is ordered to compensate” that have been circulated online recently are related to the brake incident and car owner rights protection. But in fact, it has nothing to do with car faults and it was old news from March. The rights protection mentioned were due to fraudulent sales, and the so-called successful rights protection in the second trial only upheld the original judgment of the first trial.

You see, it’s really difficult to discern Tesla’s news information.

We have no intention of provoking any disputes or expressing any opinions. Currently, it is still not the time for a professional automotive media to make any conclusions on this matter, just like the sentence “Man is the measure of all things” at the bottom of our account-

We just interviewed some car owners, including a Tesla owner, to hear their thoughts on Tesla beyond the online keyboard.

For Tesla, I used to like it but couldn’t afford it, and now I can afford it but it’s not suitable.

As can be seen from my purchase of ATS, I prefer to be the head of a chicken rather than the tail of a phoenix. Regarding the brake incident, Tesla said it was a driver’s mistake, but I don’t believe that a company of this size can explain it away as being due to the driver’s poor skills. I want to believe that a phoenix is better than a chicken, and that you get what you pay for, but a company cannot make consumers feel like it has no lower limit in terms of intelligence.# Although the brake-gate scandal did not completely shake my judgment, some brands are experienced at handling such PR issues. However, Model 3 is said to use civilian-grade hardware, but actually it should be professional-grade, which is a crucial distinction, and then there’s hardware backup.

Nevertheless, when it comes to purchasing an electric car, Tesla is still the best choice in my opinion. If I must buy an electric car, it must be Tesla, but definitely not the Model 3 low-end model.

Leaving aside public opinion, I do have doubts about Tesla’s braking logic.

I owned a Tesla last year, drove both Tesla’s two models and other electric cars for a while, and their driving experience compared to other cars in the same price range was just average. It seemed more like early branding premium which is similar to BBA. At least I found the handling and comfort to be average.

I had driven the Model 3 more at that time, and the braking feedback was very uncomfortable. After the public outcry, the electronic brake made me feel more insecure and uncomfortable. When people spend money, they want to be comfortable and safe. After all, what if it happens to me?

Among the new forces in the auto industry, I was initially interested in Tesla because of its appearance, but after trying it out, I wasn’t impressed. I don’t like brands that are too boastful. After all, I have never been into that sentimental stuff. I might give Xpeng a try. However, if I had to rank electric cars, Tesla would be in the top three.

If I must buy an electric car, BYD and Geely are my top choices. I don’t mean to choose traditional car companies; I just think it’s more convenient and secure to have both car and after-sales service guaranteed.

When I was twenty years old, Tesla wasn’t as popular as it is now, and I thought it was really amazing. If I had to buy an electric car, I would have chosen Tesla without hesitation, regardless of speed and passion. But now, I wouldn’t.

I’m not just following negative news, nor am I saying I can’t live without it. If I really had to buy, I think Xpeng is impressive in terms of appearance and configuration. As for Tesla’s brake-gate incident, I can understand it personally. I believe that I can understand the mistakes made by any kind of innovation. However, after this incident, Tesla’s public relations obviously failed. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a topic like “Will you feel repulsion towards Tesla?” right?

Apart from price, purchasing a car is about sentiment. I have never heard anyone express sentimental attachment towards electric cars. When this kind of social news breaks out and Tesla’s public relations response is like this, I completely lose interest in Tesla. After all, my son needs me, and I cannot afford any risks.

I have seen news about Tesla losing control on TikTok and various platforms this year, and I find it very scary. According to my friend who owns a Tesla, they were called together for training, but I still think there are more problems with the car itself.

Personally, I don’t think there is any inherent advantage for women in driving a car. Even when I ride a bike, I’m not particularly good at it, so I’m not willing to take the driver’s license test. Although I have not had any accidents while driving, I definitely won’t consider buying a Tesla. First, it had this problem before, so I subconsciously worry about it; second, I myself may lose control, and if it loses control again, what can be done?

If one must buy an electric car in the future, I think many new brands such as NIO and LI are very good-looking and large. Especially NIO’s battery swapping function, it can alleviate my charging anxiety to a certain extent. Anyway, there are many options available. Tesla is excluded for me. Of course, until the issues of mileage anxiety, charging and parking are resolved, I’m still not considering buying an electric car.

As for my husband, he is not very interested in Tesla himself, nor is he very knowledgeable about the performance and other technical aspects of cars. However, Tesla’s public relations performance during these crises was very poor. If there were no domestic electric car brands, he might consider it. Now the evaluation of domestic electric car brands is good, so if one must buy an electric car, he would consider domestic electric car brands first and then Tesla.

I have some understanding of Tesla, but I don’t have much affection for Model 3. Before the car came out, I thought it was cool, but after it came out, I found that the quality and workmanship were too poor. It’s fast, but the quality and workmanship decreased rapidly, and the braking issue is quite scary.

Regarding the whole process of public opinion fermentation, the strongest feeling is disrespect for Chinese consumers. I will consider an electric car later but won’t consider Tesla much. I will still support domestic brands. I haven’t studied other electric cars in detail, but they seem to have many functions. I think BYD is great. I even bought their stock a few days ago, but I’m driving ES, so if I change cars, I will look at this price range or higher.

Of course, if Tesla really does solve the safety issue later, it will be considered.

I still think Tesla is the most top-notch electric car, but it’s just not suitable for me.# About Electric Cars

It’s not about home or family, but rather about range anxiety. For me, it’s a problem to get charged and ready for high-speed travel, and charging is not convenient. However, I have family members who own Teslas, and I have also driven a Model X and found it to be great.

As for recent public opinion events, I think it’s an isolated incident, and the car owner friends around me don’t have any particularly strong reactions to it. However, Tesla can be a bit arrogant, and there is indeed some truth to how their stores take advantage of customers. As for the arguing between car owners and Tesla, it’s normal, and it’s difficult to stand up for your rights anyway.

If I had to choose an electric car, I wouldn’t buy a cheap one just to save money, which eliminates many low-end models. Currently, I still think Tesla is the best, although that may not be the case in the future. Even Audi and Porsche have launched pure electric cars, and I will seriously consider the Audi.

I’m looking to buy a Model 3/Model Y with a heat pump, but I’m still waiting to make the purchase.

I’m going to replace my smart car, which has more than 70,000 miles on it and is due for a change. The reason for buying a Tesla is that in Beijing, cars with gasoline license plates can also be used on electric cars, regardless of the number limit. I also talked to the property management office, and parking and charging stations are not a problem, so it’s on my to-do list.

I’m quite objective about Tesla’s braking problem. At least in my test drive, it didn’t happen, and there is currently no evidence to suggest that there is a mechanical or calibration problem. I think this issue was hyped up by self-media, just like how people regularly criticize Apple. Buyers and haters aren’t the same group of people, but it will definitely affect sales to some extent. To be honest, drivers mistaking the accelerator for the brake will still happen no matter what car they are driving.

I have tried the ES6 at the dealership and my friend’s Model 3, and I’m planning to test-drive the Model Y. I think the Model 3 is more like a normal “car,” while the ES6, being an SUV, has a higher center of gravity and is not comfortable to turn, and there is a feeling of the accelerator and the brake pedal not being responsive. I’m also considering test driving the traditional manufacturers’ Jikua and not particularly interested in BYD. As for other old-school car companies, ABB’s early focus has been on oil-to-electric conversion, and we’ll have to wait a few more years for their pure electric platform.

I don’t think the recent public opinion events will affect Model S or Model X, as only the Model 3 has had problems.

I won’t consider traditional car companies when buying an electric car. Audi and BMW’s electric cars are weirdly designed. It’s better to go for new car manufacturers. Also, electric cars are more expensive than gas-powered cars, and only high-end brands are worth buying. In my opinion, only the Y and X models of Tesla are considered high-end brands, even though they are a bit expensive.

I used to be a fan of Tesla last year, but now I have become more objective.

Initially, I bought a Tesla because of budget. At that time, it was the most suitable option, and I also considered NIO, thinking that their customer service was good. However, the high-end configuration of NIO was far beyond my budget. I also looked at the IDEAL ONE, but I really couldn’t get into its appearance, and there were many news reports at that time about its axle breaking.

Another reason for buying a Tesla is intelligence. The interaction is good and the fusion of sensors and programs is done well. After using it for two years, I think it feels good and I haven’t encountered the problems mentioned on the internet. To be honest, Tesla is still the most advanced electric car technology in my heart. It gives you a feeling of science fiction realized and has a strong sense of technology. However, the quality control still needs to be improved.

I have tried the BYD Han, which feels very similar to a gasoline-powered car, with low production capacity and average interaction experience. I have also learned about the XPeng Motors, but the name is so unappealing. If I could predict the current situation, I wouldn’t have bought a Tesla at that time. Because in Beijing, many units currently do not allow Tesla to enter, including my unit. I still hope to be able to drive to work and make it more convenient. Some museums in Beijing also say no to me, all because the car causes inconvenience.

The guidance of public opinion is really scary. Public opinion brings a series of chain reactions, just like the butterfly effect. For example, some children who see your car will loudly say that Tesla cannot brake.

As for public opinion itself, the problem of inadequate training for car owners in the early stage is an issue, and both parties have some responsibilities, because driving a car mainly depends on the driver. Moreover, Tesla’s attitude is too arrogant, and there is not much pre-sale and after-sale service, which makes me unable to evaluate it.

Of course, these things are not enough to make me regret buying a car, and there is no other suitable electric car that I want to replace it with at present. Even if I buy another electric car in the future, I will still choose the car with the strongest sense of technology and leading technology. At that time, whether it is Tesla or not, it is hard to say. After all, I believe that domestically produced cars will become better, just like the development of Huawei phones. When we have more choices, we may not choose a Tesla.

What I hope most now is that Tesla can be objectively evaluated by the public, because the only ones who are really hurt are us ordinary car owners.

Before writing this article, I asked a professional car enthusiast group for their opinions on Tesla and received feedback from more than a dozen people. They all gave overwhelmingly positive reviews, and even one person said they are waiting for the public opinion to see if there is a chance to purchase Tesla at a low price.

At the end of this article, I don’t want to make any judgments, because I don’t want to be part of any opposing or pro-Tesla group.Once integrated into a group, one tends to only hear what they want to hear. The characteristics of a group are such that individual personalities and opinions disappear, and their emotions and thoughts are focused on the same thing they feel should happen.

Did you hear what you wanted to hear in this interview article about Tesla, or did you suddenly realize that you had been unwittingly caught up in an “unknown group”?

Finally, here is a response from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology regarding Tesla’s single pedal mode:

This content certainly does not show affirmation of Tesla, but it is the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s affirmation of regenerative braking energy and single pedal mode technology.

Will this also affect some people’s judgment of Tesla?

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.