Steve Wozniak Turns Skeptical on Tesla—Questions Elon Musk’s Claims
Although Steve Wozniak remains fond of his Tesla vehicles, he believes other automakers are leading the race in autonomous driving technology.
Steve Wozniak, famously known as "The Woz," the co-founder of Apple Inc. alongside Steve Jobs, has expressed growing skepticism about Tesla Inc. and its CEO Elon Musk’s statements.
Despite his continued enthusiasm for driving his Tesla cars, Wozniak shared his disappointment at the Nordic Business Forum in Stockholm, criticizing Tesla for failing to fulfill its ambitious technology promises and urging Musk to temper his hype around the company’s self-driving capabilities.
"I no longer trust what Elon Musk or Tesla claims, but I still love the car," said Wozniak, who owns two Model S vehicles. He accused Tesla of employing "cheap" tactics to avoid accountability when issues arise.
Reflections on Tesla and Steve Jobs
Wozniak recounted an incident where his first Tesla slid off icy roads near Lake Tahoe, ending up in a snowbank without damage but highlighting the need for a four-wheel-drive model. This experience led him to upgrade his vehicle, initially motivated by Musk’s 2016 promise that the Tesla Model 3 would achieve full self-driving functionality on city streets and highways by the end of 2017.
After years of incremental updates and sensor additions, Wozniak feels Tesla has consistently fallen short of its lofty commitments. "I love the car, but Elon Musk’s reputation often suffers from a lack of trust," he remarked. "Can we truly believe what he says? Is he simply a charismatic salesman like Jobs, who may not always be present in the long run?"
Wozniak even suggested that "every other car manufacturer worldwide," including Audi and BMW, "is currently ahead of Tesla in developing self-driving technology." He also praised his Chevy Bolt EV as his preferred daily driver.
(Related: Alibaba’s Investment in Chinese Electric Vehicle Maker)
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