Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Tuesday that he remains opposed to electric vehicle mandates but praised Tesla Inc.’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) vehicles as “absolutely top-notch products,” crediting the company’s technology and performance for building a loyal customer base.

DeSantis Praises Tesla While Rejecting Mandates

DeSantis made the comments in an exchange on X after a user responded to an earlier post about Tesla’s autonomous technology. “I’ve always opposed EV mandates, rejected the idea that EVs will save the world, and preferred traditional engines for vehicles like the F-150 I used to drive,” DeSantis wrote. “That said, it’s clear that Tesla’s are absolutely top-notch products. It’s not hard to see how they’ve developed a dedicated following.”

I’ve always opposed EV mandates, rejected the idea that EVs will save the world, and preferred traditional engines for vehicles like the F-150 I used to drive.

That said, it’s clear that Teslas are absolutely top-notch products. It’s not hard to see how they’ve developed a… https://t.co/oLAuHGColE

— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) May 13, 2026

DeSantis was responding to a user who said his family had bought five Model Ys mainly because of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software, not because they cared about electric cars. The exchange followed another DeSantis response to a Tesla enthusiast who said some friends no longer touch the steering wheel because of the latest version of FSD.

Tesla Wins Buyers Through Tech Appeal

In a separate post, DeSantis noted that Tesla’s success is “exactly how the market should work,” arguing that vehicles should win over consumers through technology, safety and performance rather than government rules.

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His comments came after a Cybercab was spotted in Miami, prompting DeSantis to say he was interested in seeing how the autonomous vehicle performs on city streets and how local residents respond.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously said FSD is key to Tesla’s broader plan to pursue “sustainable abundance,” with the company’s Master Plan Part 4 emphasizing physical AI, robotics and automation. Tesla describes the plan as using products and services to solve real-world problems while advancing toward sustainable abundance.

FSD Growth Supports Tesla Loyalty Push

The EV-maker last month reported that active FSD subscriptions reached 1.28 million in the first quarter, up 51% from a year earlier, as the company leaned further into autonomy as a growth driver.