I'm Not a Fan of the Tesla Drive-In Due to Its Extremely Attractive Appearance
I'm Not a Fan of the Tesla Drive-In Due to Its Extremely Attractive Appearance
Elon Musk is a bigoted jerk who's spent a fortune attempting to put a ruthless authoritarian back into the White House. But I found myself at odds last Friday while checking out a new Bloomberg article about the Tesla drive-in diner and EV charging station Musk is planning for Los Angeles. I adore it, but I wish anyone else besides Musk was behind it right now.
The 50s-inspired drive-in, located at Santa Monica Boulevard and Orange Drive in Hollywood, will reportedly have 28 EV charging stations, a restaurant with a rooftop dining area, and two movie screens. According to old sources, it will be open 24/7.
Anybody who knows me can easily grasp why I'd be drawn to this design and concept. Bloomberg calls it a "retro-futuristic cross between a carhop, movie theater, and mashup." And guess who's been running Paleofuture, a blog about people's futuristic visions from the past, since 2007? That's right, I am. This place was practically tailor-made for me. Take a look at this rendering, which shows how the place will eventually appear. It's straight out of 'The Jetsons.'
© Tesla
So why am I torn? Because whatever I appreciate about mid-20th century LA - that optimistic vision of the future and the Googie-infused excess - is likely quite different from what it means to someone like Elon Musk. To him, the aesthetics of retrofuturism are a longing for the 50s and 60s, with all the bigotry and outdated gender roles that he's constantly whining about these days.
Just take a look at how Musk talks, be it at his Tesla events or on shows like far-right influencer Tucker Carlson's. He talks up how "the future should look like the future," which translates to an emulation of retrofuturistic sheen from the past. And then he goes on podcasts to condemn the "woke mind virus," spread falsehoods about trans people, and vilify immigrants. How forward-thinking.
It's not hard to see how the design aesthetics of this diner and Musk's politics intersect. Not every fan of 60s futurism is a fascist, of course. But if you're a far-right billionaire, that aesthetic takes on a whole different meaning. It celebrates a time before “woke annoyances” like the birth control pill (Musk hates it), DEI initiatives (Musk sees diversity and inclusion as anti-white discrimination), and mainstream America's acceptance of trans people (Musk has problems with that ever since his trans daughter disowned him). For someone like Musk, the emphasis is more on the "retro" than the "future."
I've yet to own an electric car, let alone drive one regularly. But I've driven friends' electric vehicles and know how inconvenient charging can be based on proximity to Tesla's Superchargers. This drive-in appears to be an appealing way for people to handle charging while grabbing a bite or watching a movie.
But let's not forget that Musk is a corrupter who stage-manages robot demos and breaks labor laws while vehemently opposing unions. And he's also working to resurrect Trumpism, which promises to frighten Americans with threats to deport millions, use the military to intimidate political opponents, and bring back fascist-minded advisors.
And yet, I find myself eager to visit this upcoming Tesla diner, despite my disgust for his politics. Am I the villain, if I may loosely quote a popular meme? I think I am.
It's still unclear when the restaurant might open. A new drone video posted on YouTube's 247Tesla channel shows construction progress at the Hollywood site. But there have been rumors that this diner concept could be expanded to other locations if it's successful.
I despise almost everything Musk believes politically and shudder at the aesthetic decisions he's made, like the Cybertruck. But I must admit that I love this Tesla diner concept. I deeply hope that Musk will move to Russia (news has come out recently that he's been in regular contact with Putin) - but in the meantime, I have to give the design team some credit.
And my inner turmoil seems to be the point. The new Bloomberg article notes that liberal EV owners have grown skeptical of Musk and that this diner is a way to connect with a consumer base that finds him antithetical to their values. It's a marketing strategy, and it's been working well on me so far.
Unless the situation dramatically changes before they finish construction, this diner looks like it could be a successful retail venture. And if Musk doesn't leave the country for any reason during Kamala Harris' presidency, here's hoping that the staff at Musk's new diner will unionize and implement a fair work culture, like George Jetson did with his two-hour workday through good old-fashioned union representation.
The design of the Tesla drive-in diner, with its 50s-inspired aesthetic and numerous EV charging stations, perfectly aligns with Elon Musk's interest in retrofuturism, as demonstrated through his curation of the Paleofuture blog since 2007. This fusion of the past and the future is a testament to Musk's fascination with technology's role in shaping our future.
Despite the controversy surrounding Musk's political views, the potential benefits of the Tesla diner, such as its convenient EV charging stations and enjoyable dining experience, have left me eager to visit and experience this blend of past and present technology firsthand.