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Elon Musk, head of Tesla Motors, recently fired back after a member of the car company's beta-testing consumer group mentioned some issues they were having with their car.
The beta-testing group is using a limited release of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) service, which often runs Tesla drivers tens of thousands of dollars per year.
James Locke tweeted:
"Unfortunately I have to say I'm still having to intervene to correct #FSDBeta 10.69 in my area."
"Still lots of work to go."
"I know this is probably not a popular opinion but the focusing on the 'Chuck' complex left is getting ahead of the needs of some more basic control issues."
\u201cUnfortunately I have to say I'm still having to intervene to correct #FSDBeta 10.69 in my area. Still lots of work to go.\n\nI know this is probably not a popular opinion but the focusing on the "Chuck" complex left is getting ahead of the needs of some more basic control issues.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
The Tesla owner elaborated on some of the issues they're having.
\u201cIMHO increases the cost for #FSDBeta now is a little premature given the ongoing issues across so many situations.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
And why they felt any price increases might be premature.
\u201cThe progress from the AP team is insanely impressive but so much work to do.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
They also stated they knew they'd get some angry comments for any criticism of Tesla.
\u201c@mjkinvest I 100% agree Tesla will most like solve this first. I just know I get some angry comments off my comments like this. \n\nHonored to be a Beta tester for this amazing product.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
And they were right.
Elon Musk—who has been criticized before for his Twitter impulse control—fired back:
\u201c@arctechinc 10.69 is in limited release for a reason. Please do not ask to be included in early beta releases and then complain.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
Musk formerly said he welcomes critique and negative feedback on Tesla's projects, but not so, apparently.
James Locke—the driver in question and founding president of the Vancouver and Santa Clarita Valley Tesla Owners Clubs—immediately apologized to Musk for providing feedback.
\u201c@elonmusk I thought you wanted the honest feedback, I'm sorry my comments come off in the wrong way @elonmusk\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
Twitter, notoriously a hotbed of pro/anti Musk sentiment, was quick to jump on either side of this little spat.
On the side of the driver were those who argued Locke was in a beta-testing group and this is what he did—beta-test the car and provide feedback.
\u201c@AMuchBetterFace @arctechinc @elonmusk The feedback is on point. He doesn't need to elaborate to point of writing a paper. He spoke his mind and the CEO simply said he is complaining instead of taking into consideration his feedback. Elon should have asked:can you be more specific but instead he attacked him\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
\u201c@arctechinc @elonmusk I don\u2019t think you did anything wrong, James. Your comment actually shows that you have high hopes for FSD. My guess is Elon had a rough day. He probably felt it was dismissive of AP team\u2019s efforts. Don\u2019t forget he doesn\u2019t know you. All he saw is that one tweet in isolation.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
\u201c@arctechinc @elonmusk Don't apologize to Elon. You weren't rude or being an jerk. He asked for it then he whined about it like a man child. He only responds to things that stroke his ego. He lets his creepy stans respond to everything else.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
\u201c@arctechinc @elonmusk I thought it was strange too. I took your tweet as praise and feedback.\n\nSurprised Elon got defensive.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
\u201c@arctechinc @elonmusk No he\u2019s looking for positive feedback only, not negative.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
However, others were reflexively on the side of Musk and his vision, noting either the feedback needed to be more specific or a public forum—even if Locke hadn't signed an NDA—was the wrong place to point out Tesla's failures.
\u201c@arctechinc @elonmusk I think the feedback just needs to be more constructive and specific. Where and how is it failing for you? A lot of annoying aspects of FSD beta are due to path planning (lane choice, lane position, etc.) issues that won't really be solved until after Dojo comes online AFAIK.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
\u201c@arctechinc @elonmusk We can't deny that the man wanted fame for himself (hey who doesn't nowadays), but for that limited scope of early testers (~1000), the feedback needs to stay private.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
\u201c@arctechinc @elonmusk Complaints and honest feedback are not the same thing. Suggesting working on chucks problems instead of the ones you are personally experiencing isn\u2019t useful feedback. It\u2019s just complaining and second guessing. That\u2019s not \u201chonest feedback\u201d despite best intentions.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
\u201c@arctechinc @elonmusk I\u2019m sure he respects your honesty. I can also see him not wanting that honesty in a public forum. You\u2019ve been chosen for a beta test that isn\u2019t available for public consumption why would your opinion of it be for public consumption? It\u2019s an unnecessary PR headache.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
\u201c@FermisSocks @arctechinc @elonmusk He\u2019s a beta tester. It was off base cause it was outside the channels set up for beta feedback. The content isn\u2019t the problem. Elon was a bit flippant addressing it as complaining but it could have been worse surely he\u2019s agreed to not discuss the beta test publicly.\u201d— James Locke (@James Locke) 1661276801
Tesla's FSD is still in limited release.
The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently launched investigations into Tesla's Autopilot system and whether or not they were involved with several crashes.
Musk said the yearly price for the optional FSD software feature for Tesla drivers will be increasing to $15,000.