My experience at Tesla San Francisco on Van Ness Ave during a test drive was racist, humiliating, and deeply unprofessional.

The staff members involved identified themselves as Tina, Salem, and Aaron (although I was given an incorrect name at first, which already set the tone for the lack of professionalism).

From the beginning, I was treated with suspicion rather than respect. One of the employees made a comment implying that I might steal the car, an assumption that was completely unprovoked and offensive. There was no reasonable basis for this, and it was clear I was being judged rather than assisted. That kind of accusation during a scheduled test drive is unacceptable and felt rooted in racial bias.

On top of that, the staff were rushed, dismissive, and more focused on “business” than on providing basic customer service. Being given the wrong name, spoken to in a cold and overly direct manner, and treated like a liability instead of a customer made the entire experience uncomfortable.

This experience made me feel less than a person. No customer should ever be made to feel criminalized or disrespected simply for showing up.

Tesla seriously needs to address this location’s culture. The employees involved should be held accountable, and there is a clear need for additional training on bias, professionalism, and how to treat people with basic human decency. This was not just poor service—it was discriminatory.

This Tesla location has incredible staff! We were helped at different times by Aaron, Kevin and Nick and they were extremely knowledgeable, patient, friendly, and all around helpful. They made the process so easy and stress free and were equally helpful in person, by phone or text, and the teamwork between them was seamless. We were so surprised that no one gets commission because the customer service was above and beyond. They simply did a great job with no strings attached and at no time did we feel pressured or rushed into a decision. Thanks Aaron Kevin and Nick!!!