Tesla for Sale: Buyer’s Remorse Sinks In for Elon Musk’s E.V.-Owning Critics
The backlash against the electric vehicle company has intensified as the billionaire ally of President Trump exerts his power over the federal government.
The backlash against the electric vehicle company has intensified as the billionaire ally of President Trump exerts his power over the federal government.
www.nytimes.com
“… The buyer’s remorse is playing out at a volatile moment for Tesla, as stocks dropped by double digits in the last week, wiping out most of a post-election surge for Mr. Musk’s company. A recent report showed plummeting sales in Europe, and the company faces increased competition from other E.V. makers eating away at its market share. Recent protests outside Tesla showrooms in the United States and some notable cases of vehicle owners being harassed have also made headlines.
… Ms. Trebb, 54, a family therapist and a Democrat, said she had decided to trade in her Tesla for a gas-powered Mercedes, accepting $32,000 of the Tesla’s original $55,880 value, despite having only 10,000 miles on it. Her decision, she said, was cemented during a recent trip to the supermarket.
“Two weeks ago, I was called a Nazi,” she said, “in the parking lot at Kroger,” adding an expletive. “I came home and told my husband, ‘That’s it. I’m done.’”
… Most recently, monthly U.S. sales have seesawed between 50,000 and 60,000 after years of explosive growth. In 2024, Tesla reported the
first annual-sales drop in its history.
…
Dr. Kumait Jaroje, 40, a Republican from Worcester, Mass., used his $113,000 gold Cybertruck to advertise his cosmetic medical practice in an eye-catching way, placing a decal with contact information on its side. But he recently began to experience so much backlash that he was forced to remove the information from his car.
“It got really, really bad after the inauguration,” Dr. Jaroje said.
An obscene bumper sticker with the word “Nazi” recently appeared on the truck while it was in his driveway. …”