Former late‑night host Jay Leno warns that gasoline cars may face a fate similar to that of horses. “They once were means of transportation, now they are a leisure activity” he told the “Spiegel” magazine.
The comedian is, however, a passionate supporter of internal‑combustion engines. After leaving U.S. television, he turned his show “Jay Leno’s Garage” into one of the most successful automotive platforms worldwide, with nearly four million subscribers on YouTube. Leno owns a collection of almost 400 cars and motorcycles.
While other famous classic‑car enthusiasts reject electric vehicles, Leno is optimistic about their future. “In the end, money will decide” he said. “When electric cars become cheaper and gasoline more expensive, people will switch”. He criticises the Trump administration’s policies for stalling rather than accelerating electric mobility and renewable energy. Leno also labels the cultural battle over mobility as a costly mistake, noting that Tesla CEO Elon Musk pays a heavy price for it. “Elon was far ahead of his time” he added, “but then he politicised himself and his cars – and that caused great damage”.
Musk has in recent years increasingly aligned himself with Trump and the MAGA movement, alienating portions of his customer base.