Conservative commentator and Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro asked Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk to consider manufacturing larger vehicles to accommodate bigger families.
In a light-hearted Sunday post on X, Shapiro expressed his difficulty in fitting his growing family into the Tesla Model X and asked Musk to build a 7- or 8-seat minivan or SUV, saying the Model X and Tesla’s new SUV don’t accommodate a family with five children and two parents.
“On behalf of those who are doing our best to repopulate the West, any chance Tesla can make a minivan or SUV with 7 or 8 seats?” asked Shapiro.
Musk’s Push for Larger Families
Shapiro and his wife, Dr Mor Shapiro, welcomed their fifth child, a baby boy, on Sunday. Shapiro announced the birth on X, expressing gratitude and celebrating the newest addition to their family. The Shapiros welcomed their fourth child, a son, in 2023.
On several occasions in the past, Elon Musk expressed concerns about the declining birth rate, particularly in Western countries. He argued that high housing costs alone do not explain declining U.S. birth rates, noting that fertility rates have historically fallen as countries become wealthier. He said affordability may play a role, but the trend is consistent across developed nations.
Musk argued that young Americans should not let financial concerns discourage them from having children, saying fears that parenthood will lead to financial hardship are largely unfounded despite societal incentives that discourage larger families.
Tesla Leaves Model S, X Behind
Tesla ended production of its Model S and Model X at its Fremont factory in California in May, marking the end of two vehicles that helped bring electric cars into the mainstream after running for 14 years and 11 years, respectively.
Musk had earlier urged customers to place their orders for these models, citing that there were only a few hundred of these models left in inventory.
Both models were discontinued earlier this year as Musk shifted the company’s focus toward AI and robotics, repurposing the Fremont facility that built the vehicles to manufacture the Optimus humanoid robot. Musk wrote an emotional post announcing the end of Model S and Model X, calling it “the ending of an era.”
Tesla’s current vehicle lineup consists of the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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