'Auto Trends' Revisits Tesla's Bumpy Racial History With Its Black Workforce (Two Shows)

In 2021, Tesla was winning the electric car race in terms of sales and record setting stock prices. Almost four years later, Tesla has been on a rollercoaster ride. While Tesla is still number one in the U.S. electric car market, both sales and stocks have tumbled. Some of the sales fallout is attributed to more electric vehicle competition in the market, while the lion's share of the luxury brand's ills have been driven by CEO's Elon Musk's new role as what many see as co-President of the United States of America. 

'Auto Trends' Talks Rural Black Town Vs The State As Ford Builds A Mega Electric Vehicle Campus (Two Part Show)

Photo Credit: Ford Motor Company

In September 2021, Ford Motor Company announced the creation of a mega electric vehicle campus known as Blue Oval City, which is based in Stanton, Tennessee. Stanton is located approximately 50 miles outside of Memphis, Tennessee.

Ford’s $5.6 billion dollar electric battery and manufacturing campus will be the largest in the Ford world, according to representatives from the automaker. The sleepy little Town of Mason, Tennessee, which is located just five miles away from the site of the new Mega campus, is being led by an all-black administration. 

An Industry I Have Given My Life To Has Gone Silent Like A Hybrid

This is the paint job of NASCAR's only Black fulltime driver Bubba Wallace, Jr., official Black Lives Matter car, after the sport agreed to ban the Confederate flag.

Dear Automotive Community,

Over the past few weeks, America has been dealt a triple whammy. Our country has had to manage COVID-19, the recession and the recent racial injustices that can no longer be ignored. As Americans, we are no longer in a position to lecture other countries about their human rights injustices, when this country has literally turned a blind eye to the Black community, more specifically Black men who look like me.

The industry, which I have invested my life in, has literally switched into hybrid mode - being as silent as a mouse. Unlike with COVID-19, almost every automaker wanted to show the world how they were committed to fight the virus. Most automakers adjusted their advertising to reflect the mood of America, while others offered 'Car Mortgages' and deferred payments to let Americans know, as many were sheltered in place, and unable to work, sending the message we are here for you. Some car companies converted segments of their manufacturing plant to build ventilators, while others lent out vehicles to essential workers. The automotive community showed their compassionate side, as well as their financial commitments.