From Torque News.
The Charlotte City Council has made a controversial decision, voting 6-3 to remove Tesla from its pre-approved list of electric vehicles for purchase. This move comes as the city plans to acquire 45 new EVs, and despite a lengthy list of approved dealers, Democratic council member LaWana Mayfield successfully advocated for Tesla’s exclusion. Mayfield stated her reasoning was not due to Elon Musk’s association with President Donald Trump, but rather a concern over "multiple lawsuits because of safety issues" and "multiple concerns" related to Tesla vehicles. This decision has sparked debate within the council and raises questions about the criteria cities use when selecting their vehicle fleets.
Republican City Council member Ed Driggs pushed back on Mayfield’s claims, highlighting that all car companies face lawsuits and recalls. Driggs expressed concern about setting a "dangerous precedent" by excluding vehicles for reasons unrelated to cost or performance, especially since Teslas are already part of the city’s current fleet. This situation in Charlotte mirrors a similar shift seen in other US cities. Notably, the City of Baltimore initially chose Tesla for a significant EV fleet expansion but later "decided to go in a different direction," a move widely perceived as politically motivated, though not directly confirmed.
This latest development in Charlotte underscores a growing trend of cities re-evaluating their EV procurement strategies, sometimes with political undertones or concerns extending beyond traditional metrics like cost and performance. The debate between safety concerns, political affiliations, and the precedent set by such exclusions will likely continue to shape how municipalities across the country approach their transition to electric vehicle fleets. What are your thoughts on Charlotte’s decision? Let us know in the comments below!
In this Video:
Charlotte City Council votes to remove Tesla from EV purchase list.
LaWana Mayfield Tesla safety concerns Charlotte city fleet.
Charlotte electric vehicle procurement debate Tesla exclusion.
Ed Driggs argument against Charlotte Tesla ban precedent.
US cities changing EV fleet plans due to politics Tesla.
Baltimore City switch from Tesla to Ford EV fleet reasons.
Charlotte City Council 6-3 vote on Tesla electric vehicles.
This is Armen Hareyan from Torque News. Please follow us at https://twitter.com/torquenewsauto on Twitter and https://www.torquenews.com/ for daily automotive news. Also, follow us on Telegram at https://t.me/teslaev
Reference: WFAE
https://www.wfae.org/politics/2025-06-24/city-council-removes-tesla-from-list-of-pre-approved-electric-vehicles
