Can Tesla survive after alienating the liberal customer base?

[Quixote1818]

Last edited Thu Jun 16, 2022, 01:19 PM - Edit history (1)

I'm sure they will survive but attacking their main fan base was stupid.

Tesla and Elon Musk Are Not Loved by Liberals Anymore

Snip: All of these actions dampened progressive enthusiasm and a loss of love for Tesla and Musk. Considering that many of the buyers of Teslas are liberals, the automaker risks a loss of sales from its previously loyal customer base. As described by Witold Jerzy Henisz, a leader of the Wharton Political Risk Lab and a University of Pennsylvania management professor, “There’s a lot of downside risk. It’s a risk for any company to alienate a substantial portion of its consumer base, potential workforce, and potential investors.”

Here’s a list of the many actions of Elon Musk and Tesla that contributed to the negative liberal sentiments:

Coronavirus vaccine mandates: While Musk claims that he received the coronavirus vaccine, he frequently spoke out against vaccine mandates, which most liberals support (as well as most medical professionals and most of the general population). Also, earlier in the pandemic, Musk fought to keep Tesla production facilities fully operating during stay-at-home orders.
Anti-union stance: Tesla workers are not unionized, and Musk takes an anti-union stance. This includes criticizing the United Auto Workers union. Also, “the National Labor Relations Board accused Tesla of intimidating prospective union organizers.”
Feuds with Democrats: The notoriously confrontational Musk had multiple feuds with prominent Democrats. This includes saying that President Joe Biden is “unable to say the word ‘Tesla,” and calling the president a “puppet in human form.” Also, Musk had feuds with Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, two cherished progressive leaders.
Tesla relocation to Texas: Last year, Musk announced the move of Tesla’s headquarters from the liberal bastion of California to the more conservative-learning Texas. He cited “California’s business environment, including its pandemic restrictions,” for contributing reasons for the move.
Accusations of racism: Lask week, California sued Tesla, accusing it of “enabling a racist work culture, slurs, and discrimination.” Also, this week, Musk tweeted, and later deleted, a meme that compared Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Adolf Hitler, which drew a strong rebuke from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

More: https://www.motorbiscuit.com/tesla-elon-musk-not-loved-liberals/

Other EV automakers, such as Rivian, provide an alternative to Tesla for liberals

[MineralMan]

1. The real question is whether Tesla can survive when

there's a growing number of competitors for the EV market. My guess is that it can't. Problems reported about Tesla vehicles and an ever increasing price for Teslas also militate against the companies long-term success.

[JohnSJ]

7. +++. They will definitely have to be more price competitive as more competitors come on the

scene

[ruet]

2. I Believe That Once The Big Makers Go All In On EVs,...

Tesla will be a footnote in automotive history. There are very compelling alternatives that pop up all the time. I especially like the new KIA/Hyundai/Genesis models built on the E-GMP platform.

[PortTack]

12. Agree! In a few years there will be nothing special about a tesla..except the outrageous price

For a vehicle that has issues.

[hardluck]

21. Very happy with my EV6

I cross shopped the Tesla along with the VW ID4 and Toyota/Subaru’s new offering but felt the E-GMP platform offered the best product in my price range. I just liked Kia’s styling better than Hyundai.

[oioioi]

3. NIO reportedly recruiting positions to build a US manufacturing plant

According to a report out of China, EV automaker NIO is hiring a number of positions related to manufacturing vehicles in the US. The recruitment descriptions suggest the Chinese automaker intends to begin planning and erecting EV production facilities on US soil that may begin with either complete knock down (CKD) or semi-knock down (SKD) assembly methods.

NIO ($NIO) is an EV automaker originally founded in China in 2014 that has established itself as one of the leading electrified brands, originally beginning with a line of electric SUVs. Following the addition of two EV sedans, NIO has begun expanding to other global markets the past year, starting in Europe.

Last December, we pointed out that during the automaker’s annual NIO Day celebration it shared ambitions to provide services in 25 countries and regions by 2025. The presentation displayed a map on screen with several markets highlighted at potential entry points including Western Europe, Australia, and you guessed it… the United States.



https://electrek.co/2022/05/27/nio-reportedly-recruiting-positions-to-build-a-us-manufacturing-plant/

[NNadir]

4. I'm ahead of my time. I've detested him for years. Of course...

...it was easy for me since unlike many here, I have always regarded the electric car as a thermodynamic shell game as opposed to having anything to do with the environment.

Recent literature suggests that they may save some lives in China by moving pollution out of highly populated cities to rural areas, but this does not make them "green."

[maxsolomon]

5. Yes.

I won't buy one, but there are plenty of "Liberals" who will forgive and forget that Musk is a trollish creep.

[getagrip_already]

6. I've been saying for years I would never buy one... because of their policies on

Right to Repair and Resale of SW components.

Actually, the lack of rights on those issues.

With tesla, you don't have a right to repair anything. If you don't use factory authorized parts installed by a factory authorized repair shop, you void your warranty and tesla can legally brick your car.

You don't own the sw that runs it; it is only used under license and it is non-transferable. If you sell it, you run the risk that the next owner will have to buy all the options all over again at a huge expense, effectively limiting the value you can sell it for.

I don't support companies with policies like that. It's the same reason I won't buy an apple product.

[ReluctanceTango]

24. WTF with bringing Apple into it

You're not married to most components with Apple. You can upgrade things like memory extension, hard drives and graphics cards with third party products. We're not required to use an Apple mouse, keyboard or any other external component--and I don't.

Some of the upgrades like internal graphics card updates require some Unix tinkering, but they're not impossible to pull off. External GPUs are the easy workaround or those scared of Unix.

I'm not even a computer tech geek, and I know this much.

[Beakybird]

8. Everyone in my family is excited about electric cars. None of us would buy a Tesla.

He's as toxic as Trump.

[Tikki]

9. We have hit every LA Auto Show since before 2018..

And in 2018 we were fortunate enough to view the Rivian
vehicles and have time at the coffee shop break with many of the engineers and tech persons involved with this brand. We were so very impressed talking to and questioning them about just everything.

I believe there are young people all over the World who WANT to be
part of a Zero Emission Vehicles future and will work this through.

Kudos to Musk and all but his brand can NOT be the only one.
We know how competition works and I believe these young people today, those who aren't afraid of facts of Science will prevail with their plans.

The Tikkis

[bif]

17. A friend of my daughter's an engineer at Rivian

Super bright guy.

[Tikki]

20. I wonder if he was at that 2018 Show...

We are Seniors and didn't know as much about EVs then as we do now so
felt a little like fish out of water talking to them.
But, we tried to ask questions that we hoped would sound important.

I can tell you each and every one we talked to was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable...It was inspiring to see mostly young people so dedicated to this EV concept.

As stated, we are Seniors so we will not be buying a large Truck or SUV
for practical reasons. So prob not a Rivian in the future.

We drove through the Hills the other day and there along the side of the little narrow road, at a home construction site, was a brand new Rivian Truck..ooohs and aaahs.

The Tikkis

[dalton99a]

10. Friends Don't Let Friends Give Money to Elon Musk.

Last edited Thu Jun 16, 2022, 03:02 PM - Edit history (1)

[hlthe2b]

11. Well, I would not buy one if $$ rained down on me. There are alternatives.

Elon Musk can go to hell with all his ill-gotten gains. I only wish that our aerospace program had not gone into business with him. The devil you know, I guess. At least Space-X appears to have competent leadership (in spite of Musk).

[leighbythesea2]

14. Don't forget

Forcing everyone back into offices 5 days a week or they are fired. Most people with progressive thinking, don't see this as necessary. Many in business, regardless of politics, don't either.
He's a toxic megalomaniac.
So many other EV choices.

[Baked Potato]

15. If we ever buy an EV, it won't be a Tesla. Nt

[GoCubsGo]

16. Only if they ditch Musk, and fix their problems.

And, as long as Elon is running things, all their problems are not going away. And, I'm not just talking about the issue of Elon, himself. He's their biggest problem, but they also have issues like their auto-piloted vehicles causing fatal crashes. And, their vehicles are not affordable to most people, but instead of the prices gradually coming down, they just jacked them up even more. If they get rid of Elon Musk, and head the company with a sane, competent individual, who can clean up the current mess, they stand a chance.

[BannonsLiver]

18. Tesla is a battery company not a car maker

That's one reason why Tesla has so many quality control problems. Ford, Toyota, GM etc. are car makers. Hopefully they will prevail in the end.

[Deep State Witch]

19. I'm Looking At an EV

But not a Tesla. I don't want to give Elon anymore money. He's a loose cannon. I'm looking at a smaller SUV, like a Hyundai Tucson, for our needs. Not a sedan. Besides, Teslas are too expensive.

[BlueIdaho]

22. Tesla can't survive making shit cars.

Now that the real automakers in world are churning out reliable electric cars and trucks, Elon’s best efforts stand in stark contrast due to their many failings. Even in my podunk little town electric vehicles are all over the road and most of them aren’t Teslas.

[farmbo]

23. Longtime Tesla owner here... this one's my last.

I have no complaints about their technology or even the pricing, but I’ve had it with Musk’s hard right wing turn and his incessant hate-trolling of his progressive customer base.

That and the fact that the competition has caught up with him and there are now numerous options outside the Tesla line. They’ve lost their leadership edge.

Good riddance Elon. Maybe the Proud Boys and Patriot Front will keep your sales numbers up in the great authoritarian paradise you seem to desire.

[ReluctanceTango]

25. The husband and I have said that our next car

Will be an EV, but I'll tear off my own skin and eat it before I'll buy a Tesla.

Musk is the reason for that.