Vancouver Auto Show drops Tesla amid backlash and safety fears

The Vancouver International Auto Show has removed Tesla from its list of exhibitors for this year’s event, citing security concerns.

The decision came after the electric vehicle company, led by Elon Musk, was offered multiple opportunities to voluntarily withdraw from the show, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

“The Vancouver International Auto Show has removed Tesla … after the automaker was provided multiple opportunities to voluntarily withdraw,” Eric Nicholl, the auto show’s executive director, said in a statement. “The Vancouver Auto Show’s primary concern is the safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff.”

The show, one of Western Canada’s largest automotive events, will feature 200 vehicles over the span of five days, beginning March 19. It includes new releases from major brands such as Cadillac, Ford, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Toyota, and Kia and is being held at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Organisers are expecting a turnout similar to last year’s event, which drew nearly 130,000 attendees.

Tesla had been listed as one of the exhibitors, but by the afternoon, the company’s logo had been removed from the event’s website.

The decision to remove Tesla from the event comes amid growing backlash from some British Columbians, spurred by Musk’s past comments questioning Canadian sovereignty and his influential role as an adviser to US President Donald Trump. Critics pointed to Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods and his controversial remark about potentially making Canada the "51st state."

Some individuals argued that the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. (NCDA), the organizer of the show, and the provincial government, which owns the Vancouver Convention Centre through the Crown corporation PavCo, should have acted sooner to remove Tesla from the event.

The cost of Tesla’s exhibit, which is based on square footage, remains unclear, and the company did not respond to Postmedia's request for comment.

“Bottom line, I want them to take it out,” said Jen Gagnon, a Canadian-American dual citizen, who expressed strong disapproval of Tesla’s participation. Gagnon was also a key organizer of the “Tesla Takedown” protest in Surrey, which took place the previous weekend. The protest featured signs such as “fire Musk” and “Tesla goes down, Elon goes down.”

Similar protests have occurred in Vancouver and across North America and Europe, organized by groups like Vancouver Against Fascism. These protests were largely driven by Musk’s influence in the Trump administration and his involvement in global political affairs.

Musk has faced criticism for using his social media platform, X, to interfere in elections in Germany and Romania, as well as promoting far-right populist movements internationally.

“Since election day, I feel like I’ve been watching my home burn down and I have felt angry and sad and powerless and helpless,” said Gagnon.

The provincial government did not respond in time for comment, but the NDP government recently announced the end of B.C. Hydro rebates for car owners who install Tesla chargers. Premier David Eby said the move was a direct result of Musk’s actions.

“I think if tens of thousands of taxpayers’ money was going to Elon Musk, they would want to throw up, so we removed them,” Eby said.

Musk responded on Twitter, calling B.C.’s decision “crazy.” Both Musk and Trump have suggested that vandalism of Tesla vehicles or dealerships should be classified as domestic terrorism in the US.

In an effort to show support for Musk, Trump hosted a Tesla exhibition at the White House, where he considered purchasing a bright red Model S.

“They’re harming a great American company,” Trump said of the backlash against Tesla, which has seen its stock drop by 53% since its peak in December. “He’s built this great company, and he shouldn’t be penalized because he’s a patriot.”

By Naila Huseynova