When Jennifer Trebb first pulled into the driveway with her refined Tesla model Y two years ago, it was, as she said, “it's like a moment of the future.”
She was helping the environment, she said, but she also had a katchet driving a Tesla. “It was definitely a bit cooler moment to have something innovative and different,” she said.
However, Trebb recently made a U-turn and joined the ranks of Tesla owners in the US and overseas. This is well known, including the singer Sheryl Crow, who sells vehicles because billionaire founder Elon Musk's values and politics alienates them. His role in the Trump administration, citing his strength over the federal government, exacerbated that tension.
Buyers' regrets play in a moment of volatile for Tesla as stocks fell by double digits last week, wiping out much of Musk's post-election surge. Recent reports show a plunge in Europe, and the company faces increasing competition from other EV manufacturers taking advantage of its market share. The recent protests outside of the US Tesla showrooms and notable cases of vehicle owners being harassed have also been made headlines.
Trev, 54, a family therapist and Democrat, said he had decided to trade Tesla for a gas-powered Mercedes. Her decision, she said, was solidified during her recent trip to the supermarket.
“Two weeks ago I was called a Nazi,” she said. “I went home and told my husband, “That's it. I'm done.'”
Many Tesla brand exiles said it was when Musk stretched his arms diagonally upwards and palms diagonally upwards while speaking at Trump's inauguration event, a salute-like gesture used in Nazi Germany and fascist Italy.
“It's a bit embarrassing to be seen in that car right now,” Trev said.
Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.
Its futuristic curves and environmentally friendly mantras have made Tesla an ubiquitty over the past decade out of curiosity, a symbol of celebrity status. In 2015, the company said it sold 50,000 cars worldwide. In 2019, the number jumped at 367,500 vehicles, reaching nearly one million in 2021. Teslas lived on the Instagram feed of the wealthy people and appeared in pop culture. There was Jaden Smith riding behind the pink Model X, and the Falcon wing door was open in the music video. Tony Stark of Marvel, played by Robert Downey Jr., had a Tesla Roadster in his car collection, so Musk made a cameo with the “Iron Man” franchise.
Recently, as Musk becomes more widely known, he has elicited criticism of his views on drastic cuts to federal agencies as part of the Trump administration, the support of the far-right AFD party in Germany, and the blockade of the community. However, Tesla sales are resilient each year and rise every year, helping market researchers describe them as brand loyalty among their customers.
Recently, after years of explosive growth, monthly US sales have been measured between 50,000 and 60,000. In 2024, Tesla reported the first decline in annual sales in its history.
Erin Keating, executive analyst at research firm Cox Automotive, said it was too early to tell him what role the public's attitude towards Musk plays in the value of Tesla's sales or second-hand models.
Still, it's not just liberals who are at odds with owning one of the EVs that will help make Musk the richest person in the world.
Dr. Kumait Jaroje, 40, a Republican from Worcester, Massachusetts, used a $113,000 gold cyber truck to promote his cosmetic medical practices in an eye-catching way, decalling contact information to the side. However, he has recently begun to experience so much backlash that he was forced to delete the information from his car.
“After taking office, it really, really gotten worse,” Dr. Jalroger said.
An indecent bumper sticker with the word “Nazi” recently appeared on a truck while in his driveway.
A few days later, Syrian immigrant Dr. Jalrozier said he received a threatening phone message during practice and urged him to submit a police report. His practice also received an influx of negative reviews online, he said.
Dr. Jaroje said he contacted Tesla about a deal on CyberTruck, and said it was useless and he plans to sell it.
Replacing a Tesla with another electric vehicle is not a logistical challenge for many new models once.
“Many manufacturers are beginning to adopt Tesla Power Infrastructure,” Keating said.
Tesla accounted for four of the 20 second-hand car models that have lost the greatest value for the year that will end in January, according to Karl Brauer, executive analyst at online car search site ISEeCars.com. Two models placed at the top of the list, Model 3 (27.1%) and Model Y (21.9%).
Electric cars are usually depreciated faster than other used cars, Brauer said he's still a surprise to see the second model on the list, as buyers focus on value rather than fame or branding.
Tesla shares fell about 13% in the last week of February, bringing the company's market value to a further less than $1 trillion. The shares closed at $284.65 on Monday, the lowest since Election Day since November 5th. This is down more than 40% from the peak of $479.86 at the end of December 17th.
According to the European Association of Auto Manufacturers, Slide followed the European company's disappointing sales report, and the number of Teslas new vehicle registrations fell 50% in January. The decline was well above the 5.9% decline in electric vehicle registrations overall over the same period, the association's tally showed.
London-based writer and director Paul Unwin, 67, said he paid an early termination fee of around £500 in December to protest Musk in a few months to get out of the Tesla model's three-year lease.
“I called the leasing company and said, 'I want you to get the car back,'” Unwin said.
When he replaced his Tesla with the Paulsla 3, an electric car, his neighbors noticed it, he said.
“People said, 'I'm glad you removed that car,'” Unwin said. “I would have paid it twice.”
Alex Cole Hamilton, a member of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Liberal Democrats, declared in February that he also sold five years of Tesla on social media.
“Mask's daily rage, his slaughter of public discourse to honor,” Cole Hamilton wrote.
In the US, perhaps the most notable accusation of the automotive brand was submitted by singer-songwriter Crow. He posted an Instagram video in February showing her waving as her electric car was driven away by a flatbed truck.
Actress Octavia Spencer and musician Kacey Musgraves were among the celebrities who commented on their message of support for the decision.
Still, the Teslas is the most popular electric vehicle in the United States.
In a discussion in the Facebook group of owners of Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, the 93,000 members may declare that they have purchased a car to support Elon, or that they have purchased a car for his public persona.
Appearing with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican of Louisiana, made a laugh at Crow's protest.
“I think she'll work, but if she had smart ideas, it would die alone, and I'm afraid,” Kennedy said.
Recently, Musk and Trump were on his show, Hannity told Kennedy: “I have a friend who owns Teslas. If you're going to boycott and try to hurt Elon Musk to expose waste, fraud, abuse and corruption, I think you're really going to look for Tesla.”
He continued: “I think it will be my next car.”
Jack Ewing and Michael Levenson contributed to the report.
