The electric car brand was once a liberal favourite – but the CEO’s embrace of Trump has led to an angry backlash

Summary

Elon Musk’s vocal support for Donald Trump and promotion of far-right conspiracy theories has alienated many Tesla owners, who now express embarrassment over their cars.

Sales of anti-Musk stickers, such as “Anti Elon Tesla Club,” have surged as owners distance themselves from Musk’s politics.

Once admired by liberals for his environmental advocacy, Musk’s alignment with Trump and leadership in his administration have sparked backlash.

While Tesla remains the dominant EV maker, analysts warn Musk’s polarizing image may impact sales as competition grows and Trump plans to cut EV tax incentives.

  • GHiLA@sh.itjust.works
    5·
    3 days ago

    I want “I got this before Elon went crazy”

    But I drive a Civic

    I want “I still did, tho” on the other side

    🤣

  • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
    844·
    4 days ago

    2018 he called a diver that saved kids a pedo. Anyone who bought a Tesla after that can get fucked.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
      44·
      4 days ago

      A year after Tesla was started, he invested into it with shitloads of money.

      Then he sued Tesla for the “right” to be called a “founder”.

    • krashmo@lemmy.world
      143·
      4 days ago

      You say that but it’s a pretty recent development that there was any significant alternatives to Tesla in the American EV space. Even now that is one of the only options for buying used at a reasonable price. That is finally starting to change but for a lot of people between 2018 and now the choice was between buying another ICE vehicle or a Tesla. I don’t blame people for overlooking some of Elon’s faults in order to help address climate change, especially since the really crazy side of him wasn’t widely publicized until two-ish years ago.

  • Buffalox@lemmy.world
    27·
    4 days ago

    While Tesla remains the dominant EV maker

    Well actually they don’t, they’ve been surpassed by BYD.

    • kerrypacker@lemmy.world
      6·
      4 days ago

      I rent a lot of cars for work travel and BYDs are nowhere near as nice as Teslas to drive. That will change in time though, and their batteries are already better I believe.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.world
        3·
        4 days ago

        I’ve only seen one review, I think it was called Dolphin. Overall the car was reviewed as OK to very good for the price here in Denmark, but the handling was awful.
        It shall be interesting to see how well the new LiFePo batteries do, the current gen Blade batteries are allegedly good, but have proven to not be quite as safe as they were supposed to be. Safety was supposed to be a big feature of blade batteries. But in reality, they are only marginally better than other batteries.

  • Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works
    631·
    4 days ago

    I cant stop laughing when I see a Cybertruck. This is the ultimate insecurity toy and the ugliest car ever made.

  • Brodysseus@lemmy.world
    24·
    4 days ago

    I have a beater 97 Corolla. Don’t care about stuff hitting it one bit. I wanna get some kind of funny sticker that’s like “at least it’s not a Tesla” or something like that

  • GHiLA@sh.itjust.works
    12·
    4 days ago

    brainstorms a hellscape situation where a Tesla is regulated into your ownership and every American is forcibly taxed to pay for it

    “THANKS FOR THE FREE CAR BASED ELON”

    ~ Conservatives

    You better keep an eye on that goddamn phone, buddy, I’m calling it next year.

  • explodicle@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    165·
    4 days ago

    I prefer to cut off Teslas because nobody is letting me in anyways, and they’ve got automatic safety braking. Yes, my signal is on.

    • phoneymouse@lemmy.world
      5·
      4 days ago

      I cut off a Tesla once that cut me off first. Asshole was livid, but deserved it. Didn’t think about the safety braking, but that’s a good point, does the Tesla even let them move if someone is cutting them off or do they just have to sit there and let it happen?

      The collision avoidance can’t be that good though, because some elderly man in a Tesla backed in to me once.

  • FlowVoid@lemmy.worldEnglish
    131·
    5 days ago

    Former owner here. Such a relief to be rid of it. Never again as long as Musk remains at Tesla.

  • Bustedknuckles@lemmy.world
    71·
    5 days ago

    So sell it? Plenty of musk fanboys will buy and selling used will reduce his income. Unless there are some non-transferable nonsenses that discourage private transfer?