Three things are no secret: 1) Elon Musk benefits more than any other individual from Tesla’s success, 2) Elon Musk has gotten extremely involved in political matters (emphasis on “extremely”), and 3) many people won’t buy Tesla products because of those first two facts.

New research from JW Surety Bonds finds that 1 out of 4 Americans “avoid Tesla’s technology due to their opinions on Elon Musk.” That’s a full quarter of the US public that won’t consider great electric vehicles, including the best selling vehicle in the world, because of Musk’s highly abnormal involvement in US politics.

Before we get to more of the research, it should also be noted that Musk has been getting more and more involved, including in highly abnormal and extremely right-wing ways, in European politics — in the UK, Italy, Germany, and other major auto markets. Without a doubt, this is starting to impact consumer behavior in Europe as well.

I can’t think of anything else as significant in consumer product sales. Yes, there are some other highly politically engaged business people, but they aren’t so directly involved or tied to significant mass-market products. (I’m not counting the MyPillow guy, for example.) There are founders and CEOs of major corporations who are known political actors, but not so openly and loudly that they draw widely significant scrutiny or tarnish the brand they represent.

  • @[email protected]
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    32 months ago

    I noticed a cybertruck downstairs when I was vaping on a bench. I wrote the word “stupid” on a sticky note when I got back to my desk. If the thing is still there when I go to lunch in 30m, I’ll put it on the driver-side window.

    • @reddig33
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      62 months ago

      Please don’t do this. It will have the opposite effect of what you want.

      • @Takumidesh
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        72 months ago

        Also the car is literally covered in cameras that are always on, and the owner is likely to be petty.

      • @[email protected]
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        22 months ago

        It was still there when I left for home. I made sure to take my vape breaks out of sight in case the owner was a big meathead with hurt little feeling.

      • @HeyThisIsntTheYMCA
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        02 months ago

        yeah wait until it’s frosty out and lick your name on it instead

    • Nougat
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      12 months ago

      There’s cameras everywhere, just so you know.