Some 35% of UK motorists have been put off buying or owning a Tesla due to the political views of its CEO Elon Musk, but it hasn’t impacted some consumers, according to new research.
The findings, from The Green Insurer, come as US President Donald Trump also said he would support Musk by buying a Tesla.
The Green Insurer’s findings found that younger drivers in the 18-24 age group were the most likely to be deterred from purchasing a Tesla with half (50%) stating such sentiment. But this fell to less than a third (31%) in the aged 65 and over bracket.
Tesla sales have declined by 7.78% in January 2024, according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) data, with the market as a whole down by 2.5% – although they have more recently recovered by 20% in February.
In addition, there was also some who were not impacted by the current political situation, with two in five (42%) said they weren’t put off owning or buying a Tesla due to the views of Musk. There was slightly more men (45%) than women (39%) who said they are unaffected by any controversy from his comments.
More than half (52%) of motorists who said they have been put off buying a Tesla will still consider
purchasing an electric vehicle from another manufacturer. Only 3% felt so strongly about Elon Musk that they intend to trade in their current Tesla for an EV
from another manufacturer.
Nearly a quarter (24%) also said they have been put off buying any electric vehicle for the time being, and one in five (19%) say that they have given up entirely on going electric and plan instead to stick with petrol or diesel.
Paul Baxter, CEO, The Green Insurer, said:
“Our research shows that a significant number of UK motorists are factoring in Elon Musk’s political actions and public statements into their car-buying decisions.
“While Tesla remains a dominant player in the EV market, it would appear that some customers are opting for alternative brands or delaying their switch to electric vehicles altogether.
“We hope that as the UK moves towards its 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, purchasers will instead focus on the many attractive benefits afforded by EVs, such as the lower running costs and the ability to charge your car from home. We strongly urge the Government to take further action to encourage people to go green.
“Removing Insurance Premium Tax from car insurance for electric cars would be a very effective way to help UK motorists feel more confident about going green.”
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