Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk thinks California Insurance coverage Commissioner Ricardo Lara is chargeable for excessive auto insurance coverage charges within the state as a result of the state doesn’t allow consideration of its knowledge from its auto applied sciences in pricing.
Lara says he’s merely imposing the state’s Proposition 103 shopper privateness legislation that limits entry to shopper knowledge.
Musk says Lara ought to be voted out of workplace.
Lara says what Musk desires is unfair.
Right here is how the tiff performed out.

Tesla CEO
(AP Picture/Paul Sancya)
It started when Musk talked about Tesla Insurance coverage throughout his fourth quarter earnings name.
Tesla presents its personal insurance coverage that comes with know-how that measures driving habits and gives real-time suggestions to drivers. The corporate says it has knowledge exhibiting that the suggestions drivers obtain by means of the know-how results in safer driving. The Tesla telematics protection will be purchased in Arizona, Illinois, Ohio and Texas. Tesla additionally sells insurance coverage in California however it excludes the telematics profit. Musk talked about how he’d like California to vary that.
“It ought to be clear, like we’re pushing very onerous for California to vary the principles to permit informatics, which mainly signifies that you’re as secure as you’re driving is measured,” Musk stated through the name, in response to a transcript by SeekingAlphga. “So, I believe the present California guidelines are opposite to the most effective curiosity of the shoppers in California and ought to be modified.”
Lara noticed that and tweeted a response that defended California’s stance as truthful to shoppers and in step with the state’s privateness legal guidelines that restrict use of private info.
Then Lara defined his company’s place:
The Division of Insurance coverage continues to uphold and implement the patron protections set forth in voter-enacted Proposition 103 & since 2009 we’ve got allowed automobile knowledge solely to find out precise miles pushed, and solely in a approach that protects the driving force’s privateness. (2/2)
— Ricardo Lara (@ICRicardoLara) January 27, 2022
Musk noticed that and shot again that Lara is thus chargeable for excessive auto insurance coverage charges in California.
Jan 27 Replying to @ICRicardoLara
Your insurance policies are immediately chargeable for the outrageously excessive insurance coverage premiums paid by Californians
Then Musk took one other shot at Lara:
You have to be voted out of workplace
4:12 PM · Jan 27, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
Based on an analysis by ValuePenguin of common auto insurance coverage charges by state, California ranks about halfway in prices.
Lara, a Democrat, faces a number of challengers within the June main race to maintain his workplace.
Opponents who’ve filed to run for the workplace embrace Assemblyman Marc Levine, an extended serving and well-known Democrat state lawmaker. Different candidates who’ve filed to run for the workplace are Dr. Eugene Allen, Teri Barnes, Veronika Fimbres, and Lara.
Lara in his time in workplace has been an outspoken shopper advocate, going through off in opposition to insurers on charges on a number of events. He’s additionally had some speedbumps, together with a lawsuit by Consumer Watchdog over a “a pay-to-play scandal” in search of information of Lara’s conferences and communications with insurance coverage corporations.
The information relate to $54,300 in marketing campaign contributions Lara obtained from people linked to 2 insurance coverage corporations, Utilized Underwriters and Independence Holding Co., after Lara pledged to not take contributions from corporations regulated by the CDI.
A Lara spokesman reached out for remark defined that Lara’s Tweet’s have been meant to focus on the state’s stance on defending shoppers.
“The Commissioner’s tweet was meant to make clear California’s shopper protections. Nothing so as to add,” the spokesman replied to a question.
The invoice Lara referred to in his Tweets, AB 1400, often known as Assured Healthcare for All, would create common single-payer healthcare within the state, which can be being referred to as CalCare.
The invoice is shifting by means of the Meeting.
Lara additionally referred to Prop 103. Handed by California voters in November 1988, Prop 103 requires prior approval from the California’s Division of Insurance coverage earlier than insurers can implement property/casualty insurance coverage charges.
Proposition 103 requires insurers to base premiums primarily upon elements inside a driver’s management, limiting score elements. Beneath 103, auto insurance coverage premiums have to be primarily based primarily upon 1) driving security file; 2) the variety of miles pushed every year; 3) years of driving expertise.
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