this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2025

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25% of Americans Avoiding Tesla Tech Because of Elon Musk (cleantechnica.com)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by MyOpinion@lemm.ee to c/electricvehicles@slrpnk.net

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Three things are no secret: 1) Elon Musk benefits more than any other individual from Tesla’s success, 2) Elon Musk has gotten extremely involved in political matters (emphasis on “extremely”), and 3) many people won’t buy Tesla products because of those first two facts.

New research from JW Surety Bonds finds that 1 out of 4 Americans “avoid Tesla’s technology due to their opinions on Elon Musk.” That’s a full quarter of the US public that won’t consider great electric vehicles, including the best selling vehicle in the world, because of Musk’s highly abnormal involvement in US politics.

Before we get to more of the research, it should also be noted that Musk has been getting more and more involved, including in highly abnormal and extremely right-wing ways, in European politics — in the UK, Italy, Germany, and other major auto markets. Without a doubt, this is starting to impact consumer behavior in Europe as well.

I can’t think of anything else as significant in consumer product sales. Yes, there are some other highly politically engaged business people, but they aren’t so directly involved or tied to significant mass-market products. (I’m not counting the MyPillow guy, for example.) There are founders and CEOs of major corporations who are known political actors, but not so openly and loudly that they draw widely significant scrutiny or tarnish the brand they represent.

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[–] rational_lib@lemmy.world 12 points 6 days ago

The best way to fight the oligarchy is to stop paying them.

[–] Critical_Thinker@lemm.ee 11 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Open source self driving tech is out there and works in cars from toyota, honda and many other domestic and foreign manufacturers.

Tesla is shit.

[–] moseschrute@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

Comma.ai?

[–] NuclearDolphin@lemmy.ml 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Finna go to Mexico just to import a BYD or Nio

[–] buzz86us@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago

Yeah I've been pissed off with elon since he turned project redwood into a cash grab.. $37500 is a goddamn ripoff.

[–] Tikiporch@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Also include Tesla solar on that list. If Tesla can access my cars data and cameras at will, what is keeping them out of my power system?

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

Their solar systems are also like triple the price of anything else.

[–] Glytch@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

[–] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 166 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Count me among the boycotters. Musk has made it all but certain I'll never ever buy any product or service he benefits from if I can avoid it.

Also...

Musk’s highly abnormal involvement in ~~US~~ world politics

There. FTFY.

[–] MyOpinion@lemm.ee 71 points 1 week ago (7 children)

He is one of the most dangerous people today. Not one penny of my money will go to him willingly from me.

[–] Eldritch@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

I might willingly give him a penny. But only after its been electromagnetically accelerated to sufficient speed by a pair of charged rails.

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[–] m_f@midwest.social 88 points 1 week ago (3 children)

A family member had a deposit down on a Cybertruck and was ready to buy one. They canceled their deposit and bought a different EV because of how much they despise Elon now, so it's not just sour grapes from people that couldn't/wouldn't buy one anyways.

[–] laurelraven@lemmy.zip 5 points 6 days ago

I genuinely don't get when they say "haters are just jealous they can't afford it"... Like, no? Seriously? Do you see them hating on Lamborghinis or Ferraris? It doesn't make any sense.

[–] Nollij@sopuli.xyz 35 points 1 week ago

It may be difficult to really say who's part of that group. Years ago, I definitely wanted a Tesla. Would I have been part of that group at that time? Then the downsides started to show up. Poor QA. No independent repairs. Expensive repairs and poor warranty coverage. Their vision of a car controlled by an app. Then Musk went insane.

Then later, when I was in the market for a new car, I didn't seriously consider a Tesla. I looked at them briefly to make sure I wasn't missing out on something big, and found the options to be lackluster. I ended up buying a Bolt.

Would I have bought a Tesla, were it not for Elon's political actions? TBH, probably not. The repairs thing really turned me off. Even though it's largely theoretical (I've yet to find an independent EV mechanic), it's very important that I have the possibility.

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[–] RoidingOldMan@lemmy.world 48 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (14 children)

Sad that it's only 25%.

I can’t think of anything else as significant in consumer product sales.

Some people may still be boycotting Chick Fil A and Hobby Lobby. Though I doubt if it's 25%.

[–] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I still boycott Chic-Fil-Subpar.

I've had it for free a couple times and I cannot understand what the hype is all about. I can go down the street to a mom and pop place and get a way better chicken sandwich for the same price and I don't have to wait in a line wrapping around the block. It's definitely some cult behavior.

But yeah, I have LGBTQ people in my life so I don't need to support an anti-LGBTQ corporation. Unfortunately, most Americans like tasty treats and shiny objects more than morality or accountability.

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[–] Ulrich_the_Old@lemmy.ca 37 points 1 week ago (4 children)

If you are not self aware enough to be embarrassed that you are driving a cybertruck do not worry, everyone who sees you driving it is embarrassed for you.

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[–] Shacktastic@lemy.lol 34 points 1 week ago

I can't boycott Tesla because of Musk because their reputation for poor build quality and horrific servicing means I wouldn't even consider them to begin with. That and I want my control stalks.

[–] AlexWIWA@lemmy.ml 30 points 1 week ago (7 children)

They’re also not good cars. There’s no reason to buy a new one in 2025

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[–] casmael@lemm.ee 27 points 1 week ago

Those are rookie numbers - you gotta pump those numbers up

[–] hypna@lemmy.world 25 points 1 week ago

I'm more deterred by the amount of control that Tesla retains over their vehicles after they've "sold" it. But if that wasn't enough, Musk's descent in oligarchic fascism certainly would be.

Musk is clearly bad for the companies he heads. I'm eagerly awaiting the investor lawsuits. The stocks will probably have to dip first, though.

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