[RareSoft]

The french state holds a 15% stake in Renault according to Wikipedia so I doubt it's any coincidence.

The government likely wants to give local manufacturers an advantage even if it means not playing fair. I don't know if it's right but I understand why they do it (jobs & tax revenue).

[nraynaud]

I wouldn't read too much into their stake into Renault, they give a lot of money to PSA also.

On the subject matter, Tesla cars are a problem, they are too big and heavy for Europe. And European car makers should stop increasing their car sizes too.

[hencoappel]

> too big and heavy for Europe

You do realise that a battery is very heavy? Also, just because you don't want a bigger car, doesn't mean that others don't, there are still lost of smaller cars around.

[nraynaud]

and those smaller cars get crushed in accidents, and pedestrians and bikes get killed and kids run over. This is a race to the bottom.

[necovek]

Well, with the whole push for more environmentally friendly transportation, a bigger car will need more energy to be taken places.

Unfortunately, I can't comfortably sit in my current D-segment vehicle because I am taller than average (and there is no room in the back behind me), and any seating in buses or trains is even worse (not to mention airplanes).

So while I'd love to get the smallest car possible, I am a bit restricted if I want to actually fit my family in.

I want a small electric car for city driving though! My back will manage for short rides (I hope)!

[vvillena]

A Tesla Model S is almost 2 meters wide. That's wildly impractical everywhere in Europe.

[lloeki]

Most cars in Europe are 1.7-1.9 meters wide.

[vvillena]

Yes. Compact cars are usually 1.8m wide, subcompacts are usually around 1.7m, and bigger cars are about 1.9m. 2m puts a Tesla Model S in "midsize van" territory. Thats the size where you start having problems in some spots. For a private car, that's impractical.