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| ‘Love the car, not the CEO’: how Europe’s Tesla owners feel about their cars - and Elon Musk | ‘Love the car, not the CEO’: how Europe’s Tesla owners feel about their cars - and Elon Musk |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Some voice regret over Musk’s backing of Trump, but others say CEO’s views do not detract from the car’s appeal | Some voice regret over Musk’s backing of Trump, but others say CEO’s views do not detract from the car’s appeal |
| Tesla showrooms across the world are expected to face anti-Elon Musk protests on Saturday, as Musk’s senior role in the Trump administration has contributed to a European consumer backlash by some Tesla owners and prospective buyers. | Tesla showrooms across the world are expected to face anti-Elon Musk protests on Saturday, as Musk’s senior role in the Trump administration has contributed to a European consumer backlash by some Tesla owners and prospective buyers. |
| It follows a 44% drop in Tesla sales in Europe on average last month, according to the research platform Jato Dynamics. Tesla’s European market share fell to 9.6% last month, the lowest it has registered in February for five years. | It follows a 44% drop in Tesla sales in Europe on average last month, according to the research platform Jato Dynamics. Tesla’s European market share fell to 9.6% last month, the lowest it has registered in February for five years. |
| However, in the UK the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported an almost 21% rise in the number of new Tesla cars registered in February, with the Model 3 and Model Y proving the second and third most popular after the Mini Cooper. | However, in the UK the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported an almost 21% rise in the number of new Tesla cars registered in February, with the Model 3 and Model Y proving the second and third most popular after the Mini Cooper. |
| Hundreds of Tesla owners got in touch with the Guardian to share how their feelings about owning Teslas have changed over time. Here are some their views. | Hundreds of Tesla owners got in touch with the Guardian to share how their feelings about owning Teslas have changed over time. Here are some their views. |
| ‘Our daughter keeps asking us to sell it’ | ‘Our daughter keeps asking us to sell it’ |
| As a birthday present in 2019, my wife booked me a test drive for the Tesla Model S. I thought, “My God, what an amazing bit of kit”. It was very smooth, very fast, and I was keen to drive something more environmentally friendly. So we bought one. | As a birthday present in 2019, my wife booked me a test drive for the Tesla Model S. I thought, “My God, what an amazing bit of kit”. It was very smooth, very fast, and I was keen to drive something more environmentally friendly. So we bought one. |
| We’ve now done about 80,000 miles on it – driving to Switzerland one year, Italy another, and last summer to the south of France. It’s been incredibly cheap, reliable, spacious, and with virtually no servicing. | We’ve now done about 80,000 miles on it – driving to Switzerland one year, Italy another, and last summer to the south of France. It’s been incredibly cheap, reliable, spacious, and with virtually no servicing. |
| But we are horrified by Trump and Musk’s extreme politics. Our 26-year-old daughter keeps asking us to sell it. When I saw Trump and Musk showcasing the models outside the White House, I felt a bit sick. I’m on Tesla owners’ forums, it’s getting very polarised. | But we are horrified by Trump and Musk’s extreme politics. Our 26-year-old daughter keeps asking us to sell it. When I saw Trump and Musk showcasing the models outside the White House, I felt a bit sick. I’m on Tesla owners’ forums, it’s getting very polarised. |
| We’re now in a series of constant dilemmas. I don’t want to have to put stickers on my Tesla like others are, with things like, “Love the car, not the CEO”. I feel very torn. The seconhand market has plummeted. Our warranty runs out in 2027, and then we’ll see. I never thought owning a car would be this difficult. Jonathan, 64, Oxford | |
| ‘Do we regret it? Morally, yes. Practically, no’ | ‘Do we regret it? Morally, yes. Practically, no’ |
| Last spring, my girlfriend and I were looking for a new car. A Tesla wasn’t even on our radar, but it turned out to be a cheaper option than the electric alternatives, and during a test drive it felt like the best car I’d ever driven … unfortunately. We thought, let’s go for it. | Last spring, my girlfriend and I were looking for a new car. A Tesla wasn’t even on our radar, but it turned out to be a cheaper option than the electric alternatives, and during a test drive it felt like the best car I’d ever driven … unfortunately. We thought, let’s go for it. |
| When Musk started campaigning for Trump last summer, I began to get questions about the car. Now it’s even worse. Friends or colleagues joke around, saying: “Ah! So you’re for Mr Musk?” But for me, having something that’s in any way a symbol of the far right is extremely painful. We feel a moral pain at being owners. | When Musk started campaigning for Trump last summer, I began to get questions about the car. Now it’s even worse. Friends or colleagues joke around, saying: “Ah! So you’re for Mr Musk?” But for me, having something that’s in any way a symbol of the far right is extremely painful. We feel a moral pain at being owners. |
| Do we regret it? Morally, yes. Practically, no. I hope this will be a passing moment, that the brand will outlive Musk. We hope someone can take over as CEO from Musk. Patrick*, 40, Belgium | |
| ‘I’m a Tesla fanboy who jumped ship’ | ‘I’m a Tesla fanboy who jumped ship’ |
| When I first drove a Tesla, while I was visiting Las Vegas for work in 2019, I was absolutely blown away. Going back to my Ford Mondeo felt like travelling back in time. I got the Model 3, which was a joy to drive, like a go-kart around the country roads, and later we got the Model Y. | When I first drove a Tesla, while I was visiting Las Vegas for work in 2019, I was absolutely blown away. Going back to my Ford Mondeo felt like travelling back in time. I got the Model 3, which was a joy to drive, like a go-kart around the country roads, and later we got the Model Y. |
| I didn’t see the rightwing stuff coming. When Musk aligned with Trump, we thought, well … the car’s great. I was still prepared to stick with Tesla right up until Musk’s so-called “Roman salute”. The day I saw that, I thought, “Oh, man”. | I didn’t see the rightwing stuff coming. When Musk aligned with Trump, we thought, well … the car’s great. I was still prepared to stick with Tesla right up until Musk’s so-called “Roman salute”. The day I saw that, I thought, “Oh, man”. |
| My car was up for renewal a few weeks ago. I was on the phone to Tesla – they were really persistent, trying to convince me to stay – when a Polestar 4 [a competitor] drove by. I booked a test drive the same day and now I’m waiting for my Polestar 4 to arrive. I’m prepared to take a slight step down in software. | My car was up for renewal a few weeks ago. I was on the phone to Tesla – they were really persistent, trying to convince me to stay – when a Polestar 4 [a competitor] drove by. I booked a test drive the same day and now I’m waiting for my Polestar 4 to arrive. I’m prepared to take a slight step down in software. |
| I was like, “Actually, I’ve got to stick to my morals, without that I haven’t got anything”. Even so, the Polestar is made in China, and we thought, is that any better? It’s almost impossible to have a fully ethical supply chain today. But Elon really put me off staying with Tesla – I’m a Tesla fanboy who jumped ship. Henry, 50, Bedfordshire | |
| ‘There’s no way I’d sell my Tesla because of the CEO’s political views’ | ‘There’s no way I’d sell my Tesla because of the CEO’s political views’ |
| They are incredible cars. I bought a Model 3 Performance in 2019, and get software updates on a regular basis so the car consistently improves and offers new features. For me, once you’ve owned a Tesla, there’s no going back. It’s the iPhone equivalent of cars – everything works really well and is easy to use. | They are incredible cars. I bought a Model 3 Performance in 2019, and get software updates on a regular basis so the car consistently improves and offers new features. For me, once you’ve owned a Tesla, there’s no going back. It’s the iPhone equivalent of cars – everything works really well and is easy to use. |
| We’ve seen on the news the fools who think it’s OK vandalising Teslas. I get quips from friends, saying, “Has anyone keyed yours yet?” But this hasn’t worried me about my car. I don’t think these activists represent more than a fraction of a per cent of the population. | We’ve seen on the news the fools who think it’s OK vandalising Teslas. I get quips from friends, saying, “Has anyone keyed yours yet?” But this hasn’t worried me about my car. I don’t think these activists represent more than a fraction of a per cent of the population. |
| There’s no way I’d sell my Tesla because of the CEO’s political views. I disagree with some things Musk says and does, but I could say the same for everyone, and I don’t see what the fuss is about with Doge. The attacks he’s endured have been disproportionate and dishonest. What I worry about is how easily people can be programmed to hate a company to such an extent. It’s been pretty astonishing. Tom, 51, Spain | There’s no way I’d sell my Tesla because of the CEO’s political views. I disagree with some things Musk says and does, but I could say the same for everyone, and I don’t see what the fuss is about with Doge. The attacks he’s endured have been disproportionate and dishonest. What I worry about is how easily people can be programmed to hate a company to such an extent. It’s been pretty astonishing. Tom, 51, Spain |
| ‘It really hurts to think that some of our savings have gone to someone like Musk’ | ‘It really hurts to think that some of our savings have gone to someone like Musk’ |
| I’m not rich, and my wife and I planned for a long time before we put our savings together to buy an electric vehicle. A car is not a status symbol for me, it’s a practical object and we wanted to reduce our carbon emissions as much as possible. | I’m not rich, and my wife and I planned for a long time before we put our savings together to buy an electric vehicle. A car is not a status symbol for me, it’s a practical object and we wanted to reduce our carbon emissions as much as possible. |
| There’s no Tesla showroom in Slovakia yet, so a couple of years ago we had to get a company in Bratislava to import one from Austria. Tesla drivers here still wave at each other because we’re so rare. While buying it, a friend warned me about Musk. Back then I just thought, probably if you dig deep enough into any corporation you’ll find someone with unpleasant views. | There’s no Tesla showroom in Slovakia yet, so a couple of years ago we had to get a company in Bratislava to import one from Austria. Tesla drivers here still wave at each other because we’re so rare. While buying it, a friend warned me about Musk. Back then I just thought, probably if you dig deep enough into any corporation you’ll find someone with unpleasant views. |
| But if I were buying a car today, there’s no way I’d get a Tesla. It really hurts to think that some of our savings have gone to a company led by someone like Musk. When he started supporting the AfD in Germany, or his associations with Trump, or what they’re now doing to USAid and federal employees – I’ve just felt worse and worse about giving the company thousands of euros. | But if I were buying a car today, there’s no way I’d get a Tesla. It really hurts to think that some of our savings have gone to a company led by someone like Musk. When he started supporting the AfD in Germany, or his associations with Trump, or what they’re now doing to USAid and federal employees – I’ve just felt worse and worse about giving the company thousands of euros. |
| It’s now worth a lot less than we paid. And it was a lot of money to us, we can’t just ditch it. It’s a symptom of a rather sad time that we live in, really. Steven, 50, Slovakia | |
| *Some names changed. | *Some names changed. |