- The reaction against Elon Musk and Doge has hit Tesla, with the brand becoming a target for protests and vandalism.
- Business Insider spoke with four Tesla owners as to why they decided to sell their EV.
- They said Musk’s work with Doge and the fear of being bullied were the main reasons for the sale.
Things may be complicated for Tesla, but at least she has a new client – President Donald Trump, who said Tuesday would buy a Tesla at a support show for CEO Elon Musk.
Far from the White House, some tall Tesla owners have had enough.
Business Insider spoke with four people who recently sold their vehicles in response to the work of the Musk that Guton the Federal Government with Doge.
It comes in response to Tesla Mounts, with exhibition hall and vehicles becoming targeted for protests.
“I sold my Tesla because I found it no longer reflecting my values. I was ashamed that I saw it running it,” Scott Oran, a real estate developer living near Boston, told Business Insider.
Oran said he was initially withdrawn in his 2018 model due to the company’s environmental credentials and promises to address the climate crisis “in a constructive way”.
Despite his model 3 being a “very good car”, Musk’s work running government vacation with Doge was a lot for Oran.
“I saw her sale as a protest against Elon Musk and his work in Doge. Musk was not chosen. He is guting our American government,” he said.
“He is illegally resting federal workers. He is illegally dismantling federal agencies. He is spreading conspiracy theory, and he is empowering extremists. In short, he is planting chaos and confusion. And I felt we have to send a message to him and others like he is not American democracy,” Oran added.
While most car buyers tend to swing more from price and performance than politics, Tesla and other EV brands have traditionally appealed to clients who care about environmentalism-life that is likely to oppose Musk’s new interest in far-right politics.
The former Tesla’s second owner, who did not want to be named to avoid possible revenge, said: “What attracted me initially was trying to leave fossil fuels.”
While his 2021 model performance variant had problems including battery and computer problems, he said he was “rejected” by his performance.
The former owner described the controversial gesture that Musk made at a trump’s inauguration rally as “straw that broke the camel’s back”, making it trade in Tesla at the end of last month with a $ 22,000 rating, according to a purchase contract viewed by BI.
“Everyone tweet that he has been written since then has just added more nails to the casket to my mind,” they said.
Protests and harassment
As Musk’s reaction and the extensive Government holidays adopted by the DOGE have increased, Tesla has increasingly gave birth to the public burden of the public.
High -profile owners including singer Sherryl Crow have sold their cars in response to Musk’s actions, and a nationwide protest movement, “Tesla Takedown”, has organized protests in the Tesla exhibition hall across the country.
Cybertrucks and other Tesla vehicles have also been vandalized, and police in Oregon are investigating after the shooting was shot in a Tesla exhibition hall.
Exhibition hall and Tesla vehicles have been hit by anti-eelon musk protests. Katherine Li/Business Insider
For some Tesla owners, the fear of being bullied has played a role in the decision to sell.
“I’ve had times when drivers would control me or make road barriers, and I’ve had some people to remove me for no apparent reason,” the former model owner of model 3 said.
“That made my clearest decision – I have a newborn baby and although I know I can be protective in my direction, I’m not glad my son in the car and I have to deal with harassment.”
Oran said he had not experienced a quick reaction, but had seen Tesla drivers being twisted as they participated in a peaceful Tesla Takedown protest in a Boston trade. “I imagined myself to be in that situation and I just wouldn’t want to happen it.”
Rivals watch to overcome
Tesla’s pallor wealth seems to be taking advantage of its EV rivals.
Two former owners who spoke to Bi said they had exchanged their teslas for a polestar. The Swedish brand EV has aggressively aimed at tesla customers in recent weeks.
The former third owner, who had a Y model, said they were initially skeptical about rival vehicles, but were acquired by polestar 3.
Oran, who sold his Tesla for about $ 18,000 and now runs a Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV, said: “Although Tesla created the market for electric vehicles, there are now a number of really good alternatives.”
Polestar is trying to deceive Tesla owners with a series of agreements and incentives. Yu Ruidong/VCG/Getty Images
Tesla owners deciding to sell will find the used car market saturated with the pre-owner 3S and YS model, with resale values that fall in recent years.
The former owner of the fourth, who had a model 3, said his decision to sell was partially motivated for fear that resale values could fall even further because of Musk’s behavior.
“I was not offended enough by his political behavior to sell the car, but I didn’t want the value of my car to be connected to his political behavior,” the owner said, who traded in his 2018 model for about $ 17,000.
“Elon Musk is taking a lot of blows for his behavior about the government, but this is not necessarily in the end. His behavior can deteriorate … Who will buy his car then?” added the person who now owns an EV.
Tesla did not respond to a comment request.