Hansjörg von Gemmingen covered around 1.7 million kilometers in his Tesla Model S P85. A record driver and big Tesla fan. But he doesn’t want to buy the next electric car from Elon Musk. He gives three reasons for this.
Hansjörg-Eberhard Freiherr von Gemmingen-Hornberg is passionate about driving his Tesla electric car. He has driven around 1.7 million kilometers in his Model S since 2014 and has worn out a number of engines. The Tesla record driver has long been a fan of Musk cars. But his next car should not be a Tesla. Hansjörg von Gemmingen explains this in an interview with “Spiegel”.
For Hansjörg von Gemmingen there are three reasons why he does not want to buy his next car from Tesla again.
1st reason: Technical deficits in the Tesla motor
After eight years with his Tesla, Hansjörg von Gemmingen is now driving his 13th engine. Thanks to the eight-year unlimited mileage guarantee, the replacement of the motors was always free of charge, but the motors have not changed. “That’s very disappointing. My car has rear-wheel drive, which is obviously particularly vulnerable. But I don’t know exactly what the problem is, Tesla never commented on it,” says Hansjörg von Gemmingen.
In his opinion, a car manufacturer must explain how the engines are designed, what exactly the problem is and how to remedy it. But the communication was miserable, according to the Tesla record driver.
2nd reason: electric car progress of other brands
Although Hansjörg von Gemmingen would like to break the two million kilometer mark with his current car, the next car should not be a Tesla after that. Other manufacturers have caught up well, such as von Gemmingen. He has to be careful with his Tesla that he remains technically up to date. At Tesla it is good that the car software is updated via the mobile network. When it comes to charging times and the durability of the cars, however, other manufacturers have “made quite a bit of progress”.
Both the Porsche Taycan and the Mercedes EQS are alternatives for electric car fans. The larger batteries are decisive arguments for frequent drivers. But VW and Chinese manufacturers are also currently on the rise. “Tesla has to make a real effort if they want to stay ahead,” added von Gemmingen. There are now enough other exciting brands for electric car drivers.
3rd reason: The controversial Tesla boss Elon Musk
Tesla boss Elon Musk is controversial. This does not leave von Gemmingen indifferent either. He’s trying to separate the brand from the manager, but: “I’m also personally disappointed in Elon Musk. He never really congratulated me on the records. He congratulated me on a million kilometers eleven months later with two thumbs up via Twitter,” explains the record driver.
He continues: “Otherwise, the company has cut me or ignored me on various occasions. Musk doesn’t know gratitude. You can see that in how often he fires his people. It’s also possible that he avoids me precisely because I drive so much and that’s when the vehicle’s weaknesses come out.”
Von Gemmingen also criticizes that Musk is more and more concerned with making money with his cars and that he does not represent the environmental reasons he has invoked at all. “I’ve always been a bit critical of him. The way he jets back and forth in a private plane, for example, is of course a catastrophe from an environmental point of view, but it is also normal for business leaders like him. And some announcements were not tenable – for example, that the superchargers are operated with green electricity,” says von Gemmingen. He does not see great environmental awareness in Elon Musk. The former Tesla fan criticizes that this also fits in with the republican demeanor that he is now showing.
Tip: Ultra rich – Elon Musk: Does what he wants because he can
The original of this article “That’s why Tesla record driver doesn’t want to buy a new car from Elon Musk” comes from EFAHRER.com.
On our e-mobility portal EFAHRER.com you will find all e-vehicles available on the German market
You can also arrange a test drive for the car of your choice free of charge and thus start e-mobility in an uncomplicated manner.
