Recent news about Tesla being dangerous is incredibly hyperbolic. No real comparison to the fatalities incurred by other vehicles. A quick calculation shows Tesla to be about 100 times safer than the average vehicle. 

Since Tesla introduced Autopilot in 2015, there have been at least 11 deaths in 9 crashes in the United States that involved Autopilot.

Tesla "For those driving without Autopilot but with our active safety features, we registered one accident for every 2.05 million miles driven [NB .0205/100 million miles]. For those driving without Autopilot and without our active safety features, we registered one accident for every 978 thousand miles driven [NB .01/100 million miles].Apr 17, 2021"

https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/yearly-snapshot#trends

Year     Deaths     Crashes     Motor vehicles     rate per million miles

2015    35,485    32,539            49,477                    115

2016    37,806    34,748            52,714                   119

2017    37,473    34,560            53,128                   117

2018    36,835    33,919            52,286                   114

2019    36,096    33,244            51,247                   111

Total    183,698

Tax benefits are needed for American-made electric vehicles

 I'm looking to get a new car to replace a 2010 Prius. I'd prefer an American-made Tesla (or other Made-In-The-USA electric car. I strongly urge you to support legislation to give a hefty tax deduction or credit for buying electric Made-In-The-USA vehicles. Give only a very small or no deduction for foreign-made vehicles. 

As a senior, I need all the help I can get driving and navigating. A USA-only credit or deduction will both encourage electrifying our highways to reduce pollution and CO2 emissions, and supporting American auto companies and their employees.  An additional benefit is the added safety of cars, like the Tesla, that can help drivers navigate safely. 

sent: 2021-07-08 Alex Padilla. Diane Feinstein. Hoffman

Update 2021-07-11

There is a saying, "put your money where your mouth is." I'd like to remind our elected representatives, who are encouraging us to "go green" and "buy American", to follow that maxim. Do you really mean it when you advocate reducing CO2 emissions, increasing vehicular safety, encouraging American businesses, and helping middle-class Americans? Then vote to restore and increase the tax credit for American-made electric vehicles in the Infrastructure Bill that is wending its way through Congress.

To our State governors and legislatures, you are likewise encouraged to make it less expensive to buy American than Chinese, Korean, EU, UK, etc. Keep the money at home and use it to truly Make America Great Again (this time without Trump's disruptive, divisive antics!).

Thanks,

Stan & Kiyomi Hutchings
San Rafael, CA 94960

sent: 2021-07-08 

• Senator Alex Padilla. 
• Senator Diane Feinstein. 
• Representative Jared Hoffman, 
• Governor Gavin Newsome, 
• Assemblymember Marc Levine, 
• Senator Mike McGuire