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.

  • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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    4 days ago

    I think only extremely expensive luxury models being available is keeping Americans from buying EVs. Like where are the cheap, dependable small cars, like in other countries!?

      • aesthelete@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        I have a Honda Fit and it is the best car I’ve ever owned. If Honda came up with a Fit EV (again), I would probably buy it right away.

        • I’ve got an older (2006) Accord. I like it, but it’s 19 years old with 260k miles, and it’s just starting to have some rust issues. It’s getting to the point where repairs are almost not worth the cost. An electric Fit (or similar) might be enough for me to shell out for a new car instead of another 10+ year old car.

      • invertedspear@lemmy.zip
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        3 days ago

        Is this not the Chevy Bolt? Sure productions been on hiatus, but a late model used one is a pretty good price.

      • harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        4 days ago

        And “safety concerns.” Some are legit but in context, are probably safer than Teslas. The Chinese EV makers just need to buy more politicians.

        • coaxil@lemmy.zip
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          3 days ago

          In Aus , we have pretty strict safety over cars, the cybertruck will never be allowed on our roads due to safety issues, most of the byd range is currently available, and they are great cars! So, in this instance most likely def safer then at least 1 Tesla 😂