Growing distaste for Musk Tesla’s once-unshakable grip on the electric vehicle market appears to be loosening, and Elon Musk’s public perception may be to blame. According to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll, 67% of Americans now say they wouldn’t consider buying or leasing a Tesla, with more than half attributing their decision to Musk himself.
Musk’s political influence takes a toll
Since taking charge of President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has been at the center of controversy. His aggressive cost-cutting measures – including canceling federal contracts, firing civil servants, and dismantling foreign aid programs – have drawn national attention. But rather than boosting his popularity, Musk’s leadership of DOGE appears to have damaged his reputation.
everything_is_bad on
Can’t respect anyone who is still driving one
dingus-pendamus on
No sane person would want to give a cent to that scum bag. Most people have some humanity in their soul, too much to let a soulless heathen chainsaw life as they know it.
airduster_9000 on
Imagine there is still people out there that think Musk is a genius.
KeySpecialist9139 on
While Elon Musk’s polarizing reputation plays a role, the bigger issue may be Tesla’s failure to keep up with rivals in design, technology, and affordability. Legacy automakers and new EV competitors offer fresher styling, more advanced features, and better build quality, while Tesla’s lineup has barely evolved. The Model 3 and Y feel stagnant compared to Hyundai’s Ioniq, Kia’s EV6, or even Ford’s Mustang Mach-E. Add in Musk’s controversies, and Tesla’s brand is no longer the futuristic innovator Tesla a fading leader struggling to stay relevant.
eldelshell on
2/3 of Americans about to get Salvadoran passports.
SakaWreath on
Plus all of the other automakers have caught up and are releasing much better models, while Tesla is stuck a decade in the past.
Not refreshing their brand and stagnating has been their biggest flaw. Cybertruck not withstanding. That disaster should have been spun off into another company (Tesler) or quietly smothered with a MyPillow during the R&D phase, if it even had one.
Ok-Following447 on
Musk saw the writing on the wall, this was going to happen whether he did a full on hitler or not, because tesla doesn’t have a monopoly on self driving cars anymore, and China is mass producing far cheaper electric vehicles.
Critical_Trash842 on
So 1/3 are happy to show support for nazis and buy inferior products
Icy-Rope-021 on
But what about the 1/3 who will? /s
Perculsion on
An insane, unnecessary tragedy. One of the most inspiring technological revolutions and business successes we’ve ever seen, maybe even vital to avert disaster due to climate change, yet now I don’t see how the brand could be saved even if Musk gave away his share and position to Ford or even Greenpeace today. Somehow the stock hasn’t collapsed yet (we’re just at 2024 levels) but I have no idea why
Pete_maravich on
Remember a year ago when MAGA was blocking Tesla charging stations and now they love all things Tesla
Bronzyroller on
Just two-thirds
obiemo on
Still too many people supporting fElon. He’s a real scum of the earth.
RAH7719 on
…and the other 1/3 can’t afford a Tesla = ZERO sales and interest.
sephtis on
So that last third sounds like the reichpublicans.
RepulsivePotato69 on
Oh tesler built off transgenic mice
Raghavendra98 on
It’s simple
The left hates him and don’t buy his stuff.
The right that actually loves him are climate change deniers who love gas guzzling vehicles.
Muskrat is the worst import that the USA currently has.
theflower10 on
The other third can only afford a beat up 1995 pick-up with a Trump flag flopping proudly off the rust encrusted bed.
redditistripe on
How sad for Musk. And to think it’s all because these left-wing people are so evil. Anyone want to fess up? /s/
OuterSpacePotatoMann on
And the only third left can’t afford them
cantusethatname on
Eventually every shameless, grifting, arrogant self promoter crashes to earth.
crankygiver on
Some people have been in that camp since the very first time they saw a Tesla in person, since it was so soulless, ugly, and illogical. Smart too, given the people who have died in Teslas because their cars locked them in to drown or something else horrible.
Some people heard about the discrimination suits filed by Tesla workers and were turned off.
Some people have known the son of apartheid is a charlatan.
I’m not sure how many people knew Tesla was lying about its cars in marketing claims, but there’s that too.
It’s amazing that a third of Americans WOULD drive one of those fugly swasticar death traps today.
NotTobyFromHR on
Doesn’t matter. They won’t remove him.
vrillsharpe on
Smart choice.
Teslas have never been good cars. Their reputation for unreliability is well documented.
But, it took Musk’s about face politically to finally change this perception.
DoTheRightThingG on
The other third are twits.
Chris_HitTheOver on
Europe + China = the bigger and more important market.
He pissed off Europe.
He let China steal his tech and hand it to BYD.
And the rest of Teslas story (FSD, robotics, etc.) is all built on lies.
Big brains on this one. Very stable genius.
Atheistprophecy on
Just want Tesla to get rude of him, he’s not a founder. He’s just that baby chairman who stole the ceo position just like his daddy thought him
31 Comments
Growing distaste for Musk Tesla’s once-unshakable grip on the electric vehicle market appears to be loosening, and Elon Musk’s public perception may be to blame. According to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll, 67% of Americans now say they wouldn’t consider buying or leasing a Tesla, with more than half attributing their decision to Musk himself.
Musk’s political influence takes a toll
Since taking charge of President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has been at the center of controversy. His aggressive cost-cutting measures – including canceling federal contracts, firing civil servants, and dismantling foreign aid programs – have drawn national attention. But rather than boosting his popularity, Musk’s leadership of DOGE appears to have damaged his reputation.
Can’t respect anyone who is still driving one
No sane person would want to give a cent to that scum bag. Most people have some humanity in their soul, too much to let a soulless heathen chainsaw life as they know it.
Imagine there is still people out there that think Musk is a genius.
While Elon Musk’s polarizing reputation plays a role, the bigger issue may be Tesla’s failure to keep up with rivals in design, technology, and affordability. Legacy automakers and new EV competitors offer fresher styling, more advanced features, and better build quality, while Tesla’s lineup has barely evolved. The Model 3 and Y feel stagnant compared to Hyundai’s Ioniq, Kia’s EV6, or even Ford’s Mustang Mach-E. Add in Musk’s controversies, and Tesla’s brand is no longer the futuristic innovator Tesla a fading leader struggling to stay relevant.
2/3 of Americans about to get Salvadoran passports.
Plus all of the other automakers have caught up and are releasing much better models, while Tesla is stuck a decade in the past.
Not refreshing their brand and stagnating has been their biggest flaw. Cybertruck not withstanding. That disaster should have been spun off into another company (Tesler) or quietly smothered with a MyPillow during the R&D phase, if it even had one.
Musk saw the writing on the wall, this was going to happen whether he did a full on hitler or not, because tesla doesn’t have a monopoly on self driving cars anymore, and China is mass producing far cheaper electric vehicles.
So 1/3 are happy to show support for nazis and buy inferior products
But what about the 1/3 who will? /s
An insane, unnecessary tragedy. One of the most inspiring technological revolutions and business successes we’ve ever seen, maybe even vital to avert disaster due to climate change, yet now I don’t see how the brand could be saved even if Musk gave away his share and position to Ford or even Greenpeace today. Somehow the stock hasn’t collapsed yet (we’re just at 2024 levels) but I have no idea why
Remember a year ago when MAGA was blocking Tesla charging stations and now they love all things Tesla
Just two-thirds
Still too many people supporting fElon. He’s a real scum of the earth.
…and the other 1/3 can’t afford a Tesla = ZERO sales and interest.
So that last third sounds like the reichpublicans.
Oh tesler built off transgenic mice
It’s simple
The left hates him and don’t buy his stuff.
The right that actually loves him are climate change deniers who love gas guzzling vehicles.
Muskrat is the worst import that the USA currently has.
The other third can only afford a beat up 1995 pick-up with a Trump flag flopping proudly off the rust encrusted bed.
How sad for Musk. And to think it’s all because these left-wing people are so evil. Anyone want to fess up? /s/
And the only third left can’t afford them
Eventually every shameless, grifting, arrogant self promoter crashes to earth.
Some people have been in that camp since the very first time they saw a Tesla in person, since it was so soulless, ugly, and illogical. Smart too, given the people who have died in Teslas because their cars locked them in to drown or something else horrible.
Some people heard about the discrimination suits filed by Tesla workers and were turned off.
Some people have known the son of apartheid is a charlatan.
I’m not sure how many people knew Tesla was lying about its cars in marketing claims, but there’s that too.
It’s amazing that a third of Americans WOULD drive one of those fugly swasticar death traps today.
Doesn’t matter. They won’t remove him.
Smart choice.
Teslas have never been good cars. Their reputation for unreliability is well documented.
But, it took Musk’s about face politically to finally change this perception.
The other third are twits.
Europe + China = the bigger and more important market.
He pissed off Europe.
He let China steal his tech and hand it to BYD.
And the rest of Teslas story (FSD, robotics, etc.) is all built on lies.
Big brains on this one. Very stable genius.
Just want Tesla to get rude of him, he’s not a founder. He’s just that baby chairman who stole the ceo position just like his daddy thought him
Is it more than before?
94% of Germans say the same, I’m not joking!
Thanks to EM, 2/3 of Americans can’t afford one!