The Vancouver International Auto Show has eliminated US electric cars manufacturers.
Tesla has faced numerous protests in Canada recently due to the proximity of the owner Elon Musk with the president of the United States, Donald Trump, at a time when Trump has imposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports and publicly threatened the annexation to the country.
The car manufacturer has seen protests in its dealers, and its products have been excluded from BC electric vehicle reimbursement programs in the middle of the commercial war with the United States.
The last development comes with the annual auto show of Vancouver International that decides to exclude Tesla after the car manufacturer received multiple opportunities to voluntarily withdraw, according to a statement from the program executive director.
“The main concern of Vancouver Auto Show is the security of attendees, exhibitors and personal,” said executive director Eric Nicholl. “This decision will ensure that all attendees can focus only on enjoying the many positive elements of the event.”
At a press conference, Nicholl said that Tesla had the opportunity to voluntarily retire during the last week, and that the car manufacturer was informed of the elimination at 1 PM PT on Tuesday.
Nicholl said, in response to a CBC News question, that the concerns that caused the elimination were “all inclusive” of the perspective of protests and vandalism against Tesla.
“[In] The light of the recent growing events throughout North America, as we approach, we are seeing a peak, “said the director of the exhibition, referring to protests in the last six weeks.
“Making the decision at this time ensures that the security of our guests and assistants is primary.”
In response to US tariffs, BC is pointing to one of the president’s closest allies. As of Thursday, BC Hydro is eliminating the Tesla products from its electric vehicle loaders program. Yvette Brend of CBC is in this story.
The Auto Show is celebrated every year at the Vancouver Convention Center, and its website says it attracts more than 100,000 attendees. It is operated by the new BC car dealership association, starts on Wednesday and will end on Sunday.
In a statement in February, the car show said that it had record attendance last year and had solidified as The best assisted consumption show in western Canada and one of the main automotive exhibition events in North America.
Nicholl said that political rumors were not related to the decision to eliminate Tesla, which said it was disappointing for exposure, since he wanted to show the largest amplitude of cars available.
“It was a difficult decision to land,” he told reporters.
Musk, Tesla’s CEO, is a close confidant of Trump in his role as head of the Government’s efficiency department, which has implemented radical cuts to the civil service of that country.
The billionaire is an “absolutist of freedom of expression” self -written that has faced criticism of hate speech guardians for allowing extremist, dangerous and antisemitic comments to flourish in X, the social networks platform it possesses.
