Sometimes success creates its own problems.

Tesla revolutionized the auto industry, pushing electric vehicles into the mainstream through bold innovation.

But recent data suggests concerning patterns:

The latest J.D. Power study shows Tesla’s quality advantage has vanished.

Their EVs now match legacy automakers’ EVs at 266 problems per 100 vehicles — plenty higher than traditional gas vehicles at 180.

More troubling?

New analysis of NHTSA data indicates Tesla has the highest rate of fatal accidents among ALL car brands.

This goes beyond cars. It speaks to the delicate balance between innovation and infrastructure:

Technology usually evolves faster than:

• Driver adaptation
• Service networks
• Safety standards
• User interfaces
• Support systems

I think of Tesla’s decision to remove familiar controls like turn signal stalks. What engineers saw as streamlining, drivers experienced as disruption.

In this case, the “improvement” actually degraded quality scores. Drivers used those things without thinking about it, and didn’t feel right without them.

For product makers, the lesson is a major one: innovation must enhance the user experience, not compromise it.

The most successful products evolve at the speed of user adaptation, not technical capability.

What guardrails have you built into your innovation process?

Laurier

P.S. Even Elon’s claim of “safest cars on the road” shows the danger of overconfidence. Hard data tells a different story.