44% of Tesla owners report intentional damage (vandalism) at $1900 average repair cost

[Demovictory9]

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/tesla-vandalism-study-owners-insurance/

Study reveals surprising trend among nearly half of Tesla drivers: 'More ... emotionally charged than they ever expected'
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has drawn the ire of protesters around the country.


Vandalism against vehicles has unfortunately been around for a very long time. From keyed door panels to slashed tires, it can become a costly ordeal for anyone who has even been victimized. And according to nearly 50% of Tesla owners, their electric vehicles have been targeted by vandals at an alarming rate.

In a recent study from Guardian Service, researchers surveyed 508 Tesla owners in the United States. This was done to "explore how vandalism, insurance hikes, and public perception are reshaping the EV ownership experience."

As noted by the researchers, 44% of Tesla owners reported that they received "intentional damage to their vehicle." This accounted for an average repair bill of $1,900 for owners. Not only do these acts of vandalism cost Tesla owners in the short term, but they may affect long-term insurance rates as well.

The study reports that 61% of the respondents had their insurance rates go up following the purchase of their EV, with an average increase of $340 per year. However, millennials said that they had experienced an even greater increase at $360 annually. This resulted in 30% of EV owners switching insurance providers since their initial purchase.

[SSJVegeta]

1. Punishing tesla owners because their CEO is trash, is a little bit self defeating

[Bengus81]

3. It is but I don't buy that number.........

Sounds crazy high when you consider how many Teslers are in the US.

[sl8]

5. I'm taking it with a grain of salt.

It's a survey taken by the Guardian Service insurance company of 500+ Tesla owners. I don't know how rigorous their survey was (they don't call it a study, that came from the TCM article author).

https://guardianservice.com/auto-insurance/tesla-owners-insurance-costs-electric-car-risks/

[Midnight Writer]

9. I don't, either.

[Johnny2X2X]

2. Just plain wrong to do this

I've seen multiple Teslas in my town with bumper stickers on them saying something like, "Sorry, I bought this before we knew he was crazy."

Tesla is now a symbol of hate and oppression, while I think vandalizing them is wrong, I am not surprised that the public is lashing out against this symbol. A few years ago I was considering one, now I wouldn't dream of buying one, this is just one more reason why.

[tinrobot]

4. I live in an area that has lots of Teslas. I've yet to see any that have been vandalized.

There are Teslas in almost every parking lot and at almost every intersection here in California. All are fine.

That 44% seems overblown, at least here. The reason Tesla insurance is high is simply because they're expensive to repair.

[Quiet Em]

6. Teslas are parked in all the malls and hotels in my area and I've yet to see one damaged.

I have to wonder if some are claiming the damage was from vandalism when it was actually damage by other means.

I would never intentionally damage someone's Tesla or any vehicle for that matter. I do however laugh at people driving the ugly cyber trucks.

[EdmondDantes_]

7. I doubt the level. It obviously happens, but that's a lot of damage

Might be exaggerating for insurance.

But honestly you have to be kind of dumb to vandalize a car that has cameras everywhere.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Potentially Misleading

How many of these cases of vandalism cane before Elon's boarding of tge crazy train.
Remember, 18 months right wingers hated electric cars.
I'm not convinced that anti-Musk backlash is the main, or even secondary, driver of these attacks.
I'm also not convinced 508 owners is a sufficient sample size to make such a sweeping conclusion.

[lame54]

10. MOST Teslas I've seen are undamaged

[flvegan]

11. Misleading clickbait BS headline. n/t

[Trashman272]

12. This is very

Self defeating since the vast majority of Tesla owners are progressives.