Charlotte drops Tesla from approved city vehicle list, alleging safety issues

Core Viewpoint - The Charlotte City Council voted to remove Tesla from its list of approved vehicle manufacturers for municipal use, citing alleged safety issues as the primary reason for the decision [1][4]. Group 1: Council Decision - The council, consisting of 11 members with a Democratic majority, voted 6-3 in favor of removing Tesla from the list of approved vendors as the city plans to purchase 45 electric vehicles [1][4]. - Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield, who led the initiative, expressed concerns about the safety of Tesla vehicles, referencing multiple lawsuits related to safety issues [4][5]. Group 2: Opposition and Precedent - Republican Ed Driggs opposed the removal, arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent by excluding vendors based on reasons unrelated to cost and performance [4][5]. - Driggs noted that there are already Teslas in the municipal fleet and cited consumer data indicating that Teslas are generally safer than other vehicles regarding safety recalls [5][8]. Group 3: Remaining Vendors - Other vendors that remain on the approved list include local Chevrolet and Ford dealers, Alamo Rent-A-Car, and Hyundai's construction implementation sector [5].