Many people might not know that animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, is a stakeholder of Tesla Motors. At the electric car company's annual meeting in June last year, PETA urged Tesla to offer vegan leather for the interiors of its vehicles, with CEO Elon Musk stating that the suggestion would be considered.
Since then, Tesla has been working with PETA, and this month, the company will be launching the highly anticipated Model X electric SUV with a fully vegan interior, including the vehicle's seats, gear shift and steering wheel.
In a press release by PETA, the animal rights group noted that in discussions with Tesla, PETA pointed out the possibility for the electric car company to reduce its carbon footprint through the usage of vegan leather. The transformation of animal skin into leather entails the usage of 130 various chemicals, including cyanide, and workers and people living near tanneries suffer from constant exposure to these chemicals
The production of leather also uses up natural resources including 15,000 gallons of water for every ton of hides, and creates significant amounts of carbon emissions which lead to climate change. PETA added that the cows being slaughtered for leather suffer through branding, dehorning, tail-docking and castration, without being administered painkillers.
The timing of PETA's press release, however, is interesting, according to Tesla, as the company is claiming that it has always offered its customers with non-leather options for its electric vehicles.
When Business Insider contacted PETA for clarification regarding the press release, senior corporate liaison Anne Brainard said that the animal rights group is applauding the electric car company for offering its first faux leather option.
Brainard said that the option to have Tesla vehicles come with synthetic cloth interiors was previously only available as a low-level choice for interiors, which prevented vegan customers of Tesla from choosing higher-end interior options. The cloth option, however, just does not go well with a vehicle that could cost over $100,000.
The faux leather, however, changes this, now allowing vegans to upgrade the interiors of electric cars purchased from Tesla. The synthetic leather, which comes in a shade named by Tesla as Ultra White, is made available as an option for buyers of the upcoming Model X.
"We find that customers enjoy both leather and nonleather options for their Teslas," said Tesla spokeswoman Khobi Brooklyn in an e-mail, adding that the company is committed to providing its customers with the ability to build the Tesla electric vehicle that would meet their needs and their lifestyle.
Tesla unveiled the long-awaited Model X electric SUV in September last year. The vehicle, which comes with a hefty price tag of $132,000, has the ability to go from standstill to 60 miles per hour in only 3.8 seconds, with the time able to go down even further to 3.2 seconds with the Ludicrous mode option that customers can purchase for an additional $10,000.
The Model X boasts of a range of 250 miles on a single charge, with a top speed of 155 miles per hour. The vehicle also comes with unique falcon wing doors, an invisible chauffeur system that automatically opens the doors when the driver with the keys to the Model X approaches, and a HEPA air filter.
