Disgust at the CEO’s rightwing activism is casting a pall but conservatives are no more likely to buy EVs

Disgust at the CEO’s rightwing activism is casting a pall but conservatives are no more likely to buy EVs

US liberals have become so disgusted with Tesla since Elon Musk’s rightward turn that they are now not only far less likely to purchase the car brand but also less willing to buy any type of electric car, new research has found.

The popularity of Tesla among liberal-minded Americans has plummeted since Musk, Tesla’s chief executive and the world’s richest person, allied himself with Donald Trump and helped propel the president to election victory last year.

While liberals reported mostly positive intentions around buying an electric car in August 2023, their overall support for EVs eroded in the wake of a collapse in their opinion of Teslas, according to the new study, which polled Americans on an array of environmental actions.

  • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
    34·
    4 days ago

    The theory put forth here doesn’t make a lot of sense. Are we sure left leaning people aren’t just becoming more anti-car in general?

    For me, 5 years ago, buying an EV seemed like a great idea, albeit one I couldn’t really afford. But then I realized I could just reduce my driving by 90% and achieve the same benefit while saving money. So I don’t really need an EV anymore now that I barely ever drive.