When are people going to stop buying Teslas?

[samsingh]

every dollar into Musk's pocket goes towards some type of change only he understands.

[sop]

1. It's become a Cult Car for Musk-worshipping tech-bros.

[Wiz Imp]

8. Sales have already started dropping

Particularly in the US and Europe. Last year was their first drop in sales in 15 years. I expect that to continue. Not good marketing strategy when you align yourself politically against your main customer groups.

https://fortune.com/2025/02/04/tesla-sales-decline-california-elon-musk-trump-cybertruck-honda-hyundai-toyota/
Tesla sales are cratering in California but there are now thousands of Cybertrucks roaring across the Golden State

https://electrek.co/2025/02/03/tesla-tsla-sales-are-dropping-like-a-rock-in-europe-but-its-not-just-because-of-elon-musk/
Tesla (TSLA) sales are dropping like a rock in Europe, but it’s not just because of Elon Musk

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/tesla-sales-dropped-1-1-percent-in-2024-in-first-annual-decline-since-2011
Tesla sales dropped 1.1 percent in 2024, in first annual decline since 2011

[ratchiweenie]

40. Won't happen here until he goes after Medicare and Social Security. Then you will hear them roar and sales in the US

drop like a stone.

[allegorical oracle]

76. Think he'll also suffer a big plunge once the MAGAts figure out that he's screwing them, too. Many of the

MAGA voters in my area are very dependent on SS disability and Musk won't care.

[Raven123]

2. I've asked that question for years.

[Trust_Reality]

3. Agree. NO Teslas. NO X. Plan for no Starlink.

[hunter]

22. I wish I could auto-trash the little blue square X posts here.

Instead I've put people who compulsively post stuff from Musk's sewer (formerly known as Twitter) on ignore.

[Celerity]

35. If an article has a Xeet in it, I link to it as well, plus often do a snapshot as well, so non X folk can see it.

I am very detail-oriented with my OPs, and also almost always include all the excerpted portion's hyperlinks embedded into the text (what the DU 'link' button, the most misused button on the site, actually is for).

I do not just cut and paste plain text.

I was so, so hoping the last DU update would include auto-embedding for hyperlinks, modified fonts, etc etc, like almost all other boards I post on have, but alas, it was not to be, much to my consternation.

[EdmondDantes_]

4. Tesla's automotive revenue dropped 8% in the 4th quarter

Compared to the same quarter in 2023. For the year automotive revenue dropped 6%. But Musk's wealth is dependent on Tesla's stock which has long been detached from their sales. Instead the stock is priced on the market's optimism on their potential. That will take longer to be realized as Tesla stock rose after bad revenue and incredibly unrealistic projections for next year such as increasing automotive revenue by 60% in 2025.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/01/teslas-2024-financial-results-are-out-and-theyre-terrible/

[hatrack]

5. It's already beginning - Tesla sales down 11.6% YOY in California, their biggest US market

They were at 60% market share in 2023. In 2024, it was 52.5%

https://electrek.co/2025/02/03/teslas-sales-drop-double-digits-in-the-us-biggest-ev-market-while-others-are-growing/

[Thunderbeast]

6. ...And I aint gettin' on no Starship to Mars!

[NameAlreadyTaken]

7. It's so weird that

right-wingers are so anti-EVs and "green energy" and so pro-fossil fuels, yet they do buy Teslas and Cybertrucks and worship Eloon.

[Polybius]

10. At the very least, at least that got them to buy EV's

Although some still hate them and claim they will never buy them.

[Polybius]

9. I bought one in May

I wanted an EV and love their charging networks. Supercharging stations are near my house and job.

[CentralMass]

27. Other EV maufacturers have or are switching to the NACS connector. There are alternatives and there are more on the way.

[Polybius]

41. They would still have to set up an account with Tesla to use the Superchargers

They also charge non-Teslas more. Right now, I'm paying .33 a kilowatt, which is about $17 from 10% to 100%.

[CentralMass]

42. I don't fault anyone for owning a Tesla but I'm glad that I haven't purchased an EV yet.

A Tesla won't be in my future.

[CoopersDad]

62. I'm on my second Model 3 and unapologetic. Never needed to set up an account.

Are you sure you aren't able to use a supercharger?

I don't remember having to create an account or anything, though I probably did provide a credit card at some point in the purchase process.

Using a supercharger could not be easier: You park in the stall the charger releases the cable, the charge door opens automatically and you plug in and charging commences.

While not necessary to use the service, it's best to tell the car through the navigation feature that you're heading to a supercharging station so that it will precondition the battery.

Have fun! It's the best value in the world of EVs, moreso with the incentives that I was able to apply to bring the price down.

[BannonsLiver]

63. Do you ever feel self conscious driving a rolling avatar for Nazism?

[Polybius]

65. I also have a Model 3

It's a good car. I don't agree with Musk's politics at all.

[CoopersDad]

66. I think you should focus your energy on attacking elected officials or...

...enlightening friends and families. That's what I do.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220000425

A 20% owner of Tesla, Musk is unaffected by changes in Tesla stock.

I don't think you realize how ineffectual a boycott of the brand is when what we need to do is to elect more courageous and trustworthy representatives.

And, no, I don't feel self-conscious driving a Tesla anymore than others who drive BMWs, Rivians, or monster trucks.

It's a high quality very efficient car that I can charge at home and away from home, and was affordable.

[Polybius]

64. My EV is a Tesla, a 2024 Model 3

I exclusively use Superchargers. Here in Staten Island, it's .33 cents a kilowatt after midnight. If you check the app, it will show you which card is linked to charging. Yes, preconditioning I do, especially in the cold weather.

And I agree with you. I love the car. It's my first EV.

[CoopersDad]

70. Before Tesla, I drove a 2012 Chevy Volt and before that a 2007 Prius

The Volt ran mostly on battery except on long trips but was totaled by an angry F150 driver trying to pass me unsafely.

I test drove a Chevy Bolt, no joy in that thing, and had tested other affordable EVs.

The 2023 came in at 27K after incentives, before sales tax, less than a Camry or an Accord. I regretted not having the long range version and after test-driving the updated Highland decided to trade in the 2023 for the newer, quieter, better car.

I live in the Monterey Bay area. Teslas are everywhere these days, there's no status involved in driving a base Model 3.

Neither is there any shame, nor should there be.

[Lemons UK]

72. A great vehicle.

[mopinko]

11. there's a service center in my hood.

i’m getting ideas i shouldnt.

[Lemons UK]

12. Never. Car drives me everywhere and I charge at home. Liberating.

[Scrivener7]

55. Drives you everywhere? Were there places your previous car didn't enter?

Or are you talking about self-driving? If so, good luck with that.

[Lemons UK]

61. Luck is good.

Self-driving has worked phenomenally well.

[Scrivener7]

71. Sure it has.

[hatrack]

13. Swedish Tesla registrations down 44% YOY in January; in Norway, they're down 38%

The faltering of Tesla in the European car market, notably Norway and Sweden, comes as a surprise still, as car registrations grew by 82% and 14% this year compared to last year respectively.

Tesla’s market share in Norway stands at just 7.4%, according to January stats, where in January 2024 it was nearly 22%. In Sweden, that figure is only 2.1%, down half from its January 2024 figure.

EDIT

https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/02/03/tesla-sales-plummet-in-european-countries-after-musk-interferes-with-politics/

[samsingh]

16. that's more like it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

28. Tesla stock price $378, down from $480 Dec. 17. Analysts are asking "Does Tesla have a Musk problem?" . . nt

[Wingus Dingus]

14. Probably when they and their charging stations become frequent vandalism targets.

Already started happening in Florida or somewhere with cyber trucks.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. People are not happy with Tesla

MAGA idiots then not to be able to afford Teslas and the former customers of Teslas are not happy with Musk

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[dalton99a]

17. Friends don't let friends give money to Elon Musk

[bif]

18. When are people going to quit with the lecturing?

[JCMach1]

19. So you would advocate buying cars and other products

From one of the prime fascists destroying our country?

That's not a lecture, it's called not cutting your own throat

[bif]

20. I didn't say that.

I get tired of self-righteous people lecturing me on what I should and shouldn't do. Like the constant "dump the NYT" diatribes. It get real old, real fast. It's a free country, after all.

[JCMach1]

21. No, it's not a free country and that's the point...

That's not self righteous, it's called not burying your head in the sand.

We will need all tools available to beat back the fascists.

[Skittles]

36. LOL

yeah it's a free country - FOR NOW

no reason to keep supporting the fascist fucks who want to change that

[JCMach1]

37. The irony isn't lost on me I returned to the US from

My working expat exile largely because I was tired of the self censorship etc. of working in a dictatorship.

Now, here we are

Hi Skittles!

[NBachers]

52. My favorites are the ones demanding I go out on a General Strike and lose my job and my place to live because I won't

be able to pay my rent. Not the way to end up at almost-76.

[Scrivener7]

57. When they say that, are they somehow forcing you to do it? Are they holding a weapon on you? Are you powerless to

defy them?

If not, then welcome to a discussion board.

If so, well, then we have a problem.

[Scrivener7]

56. And they are free to say it and you are free, if you are so inclined, to ignore it.

What's the problem?

Your post is the mirror image of what you are complaining about. It, too, is a lecture.

[AkFemDem]

29. Hopefully never because you shouldn't be buying a tesla.

[dem4decades]

30. Buy a Tesla, feel the pain. It's that simple.

[The Wandering Harper]

23. never trusted Musk. Knew he was a worthless loon

when he shot a car to the Sun. Fuck that guy

[lame54]

24. Happening in Europe

[Sogo]

25. Seems like it's happening pretty emphatically in Europe:

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/02/tesla-sales-plummet-in-the-uk-france-and-germany/

[Nanuke]

26. My nephew sold his in December. Too embarrassed to drive it on the streets of Minneapolis.

[ornotna]

31. I've been not buying them since the start

I will continue this practice.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

32. Some of us were never going to buy one in the first place.

Nor any other electric car until they come down in cost to what I paid for my current car, a 2017 Honda Fit I bought in 2018. These days I drive very little, get gas every six or eight weeks.

I have NEVER understood the appeal of expensive cars, and even less understand the appeal of always having a car payment. Why? Okay, so you understandably need a loan for the first car, but after the loan is paid off, just bank the loan payment, and when it's time for a replacement car, you may well be able to pay cash. See? That wasn't hard, was it?

[sinkingfeeling]

33. For those interested in an EV here's the Best Tesla Alternatives for 2025.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/tesla-alternatives?slide=12

[MineralMan]

34. I never started...

[Intractable]

38. I've read that a lot of people are selling their Teslas because they are disgusted with Musk.

People are going to buy them used and at great prices.

[CentralMass]

43. Well, I won't.

[Intractable]

47. That's right. You stand up for yourself. Show us all what you believe!

Be proud of yourself.

[CentralMass]

73. You go right ahead and support Lord Elmo.

[Vogon_Glory]

39. I didn't buy a Tesla for several reasons

I bought a new SUV a couple of years ago after my previous car was totaled.

I stayed away from Tesla for several reasons. First, I didn’t think that the charging infrastructure was adequate (Imagine buying and driving an auto back in 1910. You’d have similar problems finding gas stations!) Second, I drive to a lot of places where there aren’t charging stations and street tires don’t cope well with rock-strewn tertiary roads (Where Teslas fear to tread). Third, Tesla didn’t make the kind of car I wanted. Fourth, as much as I dislike the inertia and complacency of many established car makers, they do have a lot of experience in designing cars that avoid the on-the-road problems that Tesla owners get to find out about the hard way

I might have bought a hybrid if I had more scratch (I didn’t have it at the time). Electric technology is evolving, but it hasn’t reached maturity.

I bought my SUV before I learned about Musk’s politics. I won’t buy a Tesla now if I can avoid it.

To the remaining car makers: get your acts together. We don’t want you to go the same way like Studebaker and Packard!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

46. We don't have many charging stations. You have to have a garage.

A lot of times, the stations don’t work. There’s a big shortage of them in most of Florida.

[Vogon_Glory]

50. There aren't that many in the Texas Panhandle

or in Colorado’s Western Slope, places where I often find myself.

[LisaM]

54. We have a hybrid, which I wouldn't change.

I don't want range anxiety, having to seek out chargers, or to worry about battery drain in extreme weather. We get great mileage and often don't even know the price of gas.

So I don't want an EV anyway, but Musk's behavior would have taken Tesla off the list long before now. Not only is he a raging misogynist who enjoys creating a toxic work environment, his behavior when the kids were trapped in a cave was inexcusable, calling the one of the people who did perform the rescue a pedophile. Ugh.

[Melon]

44. It may happen naturally with no EV tax credit

[kerry-is-my-prez]

45. It's no longer fashionable in my wealthy town, Naples.

I’ve seen a couple of cyber trucks though. People are getting other EV’s. Range Rovers are now the car to get.

[radius777]

48. BYD is much better than Tesla,

but unfortunately western govt's put heavy tariffs on them, which only benefits Musk.

[David__77]

79. No BYD, no Huawei, no TikTok are part of the new Iron Curtain.

…

[The Wandering Harper]

49. right? I never trusted that Musk

[Bobstandard]

51. Wait till you get a flat!

Teslas don’t have a spare tire. You have to wait for roadside service. In many places this means you have to wait for a tow truck to pull your car to a tire service center. Dark night, woman with a car full of kids on the side of a freeway? What could go wrong?

[Meowmee]

53. Never have, never will, never would

It’s pretty easy, not to buy a Tesla. There are plenty of other electric cars if you want one. They also seem to have some major issues anyway, and they’re overpriced.

So, out of all of the recent recommended boycotts against eloon and others, this one makes the most sense to me, and it’s very easy to do.

Unfortunately plenty of people on the left supported him, helped boost him to wealth, bought Teslas, and proclaimed him a genius etc. which he is obviously not in any way.

[lark]

58. I read yesterday that sales in USA are down 23%.

Sales in Europe were down over 60%!

[Stuckinthebush]

59. A MAGA hat on wheels

No thanks.

[CoopersDad]

67. Welcome to DU!

We need all the members we can get if we want to preserve our democracy.

[DFW]

68. I will never stop buying.....

....something I have never bought in the first place, and don't intend to.

[AntiFascist]

74. Lithium batteries don't do well in wildfires, just saying. n/t

[hurl]

75. I have purchased three EVs, never a Tesla

The first one I bought back in 2019... To be honest, I wanted a Tesla at the time but, fortunately for me, I couldn't afford one then. That was before I knew Musk was batshit. By the time I was ready for a second EV, I could afford any Tesla, but had finally figured out what a POS Musk is, so I went a different direction. So glad I did, because recent Teslas are suffering from lots of quality control issues that my EVs don't have, plus I didn't give money to a fascist. There are great alternatives to those interested.

[Ilsa]

77. Teslas are everywhere where I live.

There is a strong engineering and computer science/tech presence here north of Atlanta. There is also a very large presence of H1b visas, mostly from south Asia, particularly India. When I'm out driving I see a dozen a day.

[flvegan]

78. We have Tesla/Elon Stans here. They are proud of it.

They're in this very thread.

We can't even dismiss our own trolls. We should work on that before asking that general question.

[Emile]

80. I'm doing my part, I don't own one and have no plans on buying one.