Tesla has closed the Tesla Forums and transitioned to a new collaborative platform dubbed 'Engage Tesla.' At first glance, there wasn't a clear-cut justification for the shuttering of the forums and there seemed to be a consensus of disappointment among users of the older platform. However, Tesla has promised that its new site will offer new ways for users to interact with one another.
Tesla Forums was a part of the Tesla website that gave current and prospective Tesla owners the opportunity to share information about a wide variety of topics surrounding the Elon Musk-led electric vehicle manufacturer. The new Tesla Engagement Platform, meanwhile, is described by the company as a "digital home base" for all of Tesla's work. The goal, according to Tesla, is to create an easier way for members of the electric vehicle community to get involved and stay in touch with what the company is up to.
The Tesla Engagement Hub offers multiple ways for users to interact with the platform. For instance, the site's homepage promotes the company's top campaigns, which range from a list of upcoming Tesla Owner Club events to information about a disaster relief program with which Tesla is partnering in Texas. The campaigns can be used to help users to find out the details of an upcoming event near them, follow links in the disaster relief campaign to make charitable contributions of their own, or pursue other actions that Tesla seems worthwhile.
While Good Natured, Engage Tesla Limits Discussion
The intentions behind the Tesla Engagement Platform seem to be good, at least initially. The different campaigns currently on the platform include the aforementioned disaster relief fund in Texas, as well as a video about fulfilling a 16-year-old's wish to ride in a Tesla. Most of the content on the platform so far is meant to create a positive space for Tesla community members to engage in.
The issue, though, is that Tesla is controlling the content without (currently) allowing community members to provide their input on different topics. In the case of the platform's post about Connecticut - SB 127, Tesla is encouraging community members to reach out to members of the joint Connecticut Transportation Committee to offer their support for the bill, which would allow electric vehicle manufacturers to open licensed sales locations in the state. As there's no option available to community members other than to click the 'send a message' button, it appears to be a targeted approach by Tesla to crowdsource pressure on the state of Connecticut to pass a bill that would benefit the company.
There are other alternatives to Tesla's new, company-operated platform where Tesla enthusiasts can interact more freely. Among them are sites like Tesla Owners Online and the r/TeslaMotors subreddit. For those interested in communicating about different Tesla-related topics and events, those might be the best resources to use moving forward. The Tesla Engagement Platform, while seemingly wholesome, just isn't the replacement for the Tesla Forums that many hoped it would be.
Source: Tesla