I like Tesla, but not for the reasons you’re thinking. No, I’m not gonna carry the banner for the “EV Revolution,” and no, I don’t want a robo chauffeur to drive me around, and no, I don’t think Elon Musk is a billionaire dreamboat. Okay, maybe that last one holds some weight, but that’s not the point. I like Tesla because it’s not afraid to try something different, to forge a fresh path, to make mistakes. Tesla is a risk taker, and in an industry filled to the brim with plodding dinosaurs, the California-based automaker is a hairy mammal – small, quick, and a sign of things to come.

Never mind bludgeoning your way into an industry where the odds of start-up success are so low, you’re better off serving ice cream in the Arctic Circle. Never mind championing powertrains that contradict more than a century of convention. Never mind testing new technology on public roads with customers at the wheel. What I like about Tesla the most is its attitude – the company is up front about what it’s doing, communicating its intentions without hyperbole and without an inkling of shame. Think electric vehicle technology is important? Then make it look good, make it fast, make it desirable. It’s never been done before, and it’s a big risk, but that’s what innovation is all about. Think autonomous vehicles will save lives? Then start offering autonomous features now, and see what happens. Some will criticize, and some will point fingers, but if you just sit on your hands, nothing is gonna get done.

Risk taking is important, and as long as it’s done in a calculated way, it can pay big dividends. The auto industry needs more risk takers like Tesla.

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Tesla Model 3.