Tesla kicked out of Vancouver auto show over ‘safety’ concerns

“The Vancouver International Auto Show has removed Tesla as a participant in this week’s event, after the automaker was provided multiple opportunities to voluntarily withdraw,” said Eric Nicholl, the show’s executive director, in a statement, according to CTV News.

“The Vancouver Auto Show’s primary concern is the safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff. This decision will ensure all attendees can be solely focused on enjoying the many positive elements of the event.” The annual auto show begins Wednesday and runs through the weekend. Following Tesla’s removal, all references to the company were taken down from the event’s website.

Musk has drawn scrutiny for his support of Trump, who has taken an antagonistic stance with Canada since his second term began. He recently wrote on his social media platform X that Canada is “not a real country.” His comments fueled public calls for action, including a petition seeking to revoke his Canadian citizenship. The petition argues Musk has “engaged in activities that go against the national interest of Canada” and “attacked Canadian sovereignty," essentially calling his actions treasonous.

British Columbia recently removed Tesla vehicles from a list of products eligible for provincial subsidies. Over the weekend, protests took place at Tesla dealerships in British Columbia and other regions. In the United States, Tesla dealerships have been vandalized, with reports of vehicles being set on fire.

Musk responded to the incidents on X, calling them “domestic terrorism” and condemning what he described as “evil attacks” on his company. In a now-deleted post, he wrote, “My companies make great products that people love and I’ve never physically hurt anyone. So why the hate and violence against me? Because I am a deadly threat to the woke mind parasite and the humans it controls.”