Top Gear’s James May defends Tesla automobiles regardless of Elon Musk backlash | UK | News | EUROtoday

Top Gear and The Grand Tour star James May sat down with Al Arabiya News presenter Tom Burges Watson for an unique interview to debate his ideas on Elon Musk, and the way forward for automobiles.

The Tesla driver and automotive journalist stated: “I have a Tesla and I’m on my second Tesla, in fact, and I can’t really remember a time when a car mark was seen as a political weapon or a political enemy. I mean, when I was a child, there were people who wouldn’t buy German cars or Japanese cars because of World War Two. But, you know, they were very old people even then. But it hasn’t really happened in my time as a car journalist.”

He criticised the handfuls of assaults on Tesla drivers due to Musk and stated up to now he had and his automotive had remained unscathed. Some drivers of the electrical vechicles have reported being pulled from their automobiles and swastikas daubed on their paintwork.

“I find it a bit odd, to be honest, because yes, I accept that people have objections to Elon Musk’s involvement in American politics, but why is that being taken out on a private individual’s car in the UK, or anywhere else in the world, for that matter, but it strikes me as just pure vandalism or terrorism light” May said.

“I have to say, nobody’s dragged me out of mine yet and taken me to the gallows or anything like that and nobody set fire to it or written Nazi on it.

“I like electric cars, but I didn’t buy a Tesla because I admired Elon Musk so much. I really admired the work of his engineers. and I bought it as a car, not as a statement.”

May additionally mirrored on a generational shift in automotive tradition, explaining why he believes it is time for a youthful, brisker strategy to motoring TV. One that may finally take their place.

“I believe commentators on automobiles sooner or later should be folks of their, I imply ideally of their 20s who’re trying on the world via the eyes of a brand new technology and, you already know, who’re its inheritors. And they have to be on the market someplace.

“There are hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of individuals on the planet, and there are nonetheless fairly a couple of people who find themselves occupied with automobiles and the entire transport image. Somewhere amongst these, you want three or 4 that may be put collectively to make a TV present. I do not consider it is that troublesome.”

But May stated he was involved the youthful technology weren’t as occupied with automobiles as his technology.

“In all honesty, no, I don’t think they are on the whole, they have many more distractions and plenty that we didn’t have.

“I think the car has never been at a more interesting time in its evolution apart from the time when it was invented, I suppose. So there should be lots to say about it, about the way it’s being used, the way it’s been made, you know, the connectivity of them. But I’m not quite sure how you do it.

“I mean, I try, I’ve written a few things about the future of cars and electric cars and so on, but it really takes, I think it will take some people in their 20s or early 30s with a very modern mindset and you can address sort of what you’re alluding to, what the interest of today’s young is in cars. It’s going to be a different angle from the one we had, but I am sure it must be there somewhere. I can’t believe that car TV has come to an end.”

“I believe we have arrived at a time when we have now to reassess the automotive and the way we use it. Now, I say this as somebody who loves automobiles as a result of I do, however I really feel we should always use them with discretion and thoroughly in order that they aren’t finally taken away from us, not by the person or authorities or something like that, however by the load of public opinion.

“I do not assume automobiles are very efficient in cities and cities. I believe they’re really an effective way of getting between them. But round city they’re muddle and I do not drive in London if I can probably keep away from it. The solely time I take the automotive into London is that if I’ve bought to gather one thing actually massive like a vase or a eating chair or one thing. The remainder of the time I exploit public transport and bicycles as a result of it is, to be trustworthy, it is faster.”

Watch the total interview right here:https://youtu.be/OUJjfgd5QUM?si=kHowhf_PIwqwn6er&t=1808