Tesla Has Become the World’s Most Avoided EV Brand, Likely Due to Musk | Carscoops

      Over 40 percent of electric vehicle (EV) owners indicated they would prefer to avoid the US company and its controversial CEO.

      Recent findings reveal that more than half of EV owners now steer clear of specific brands for political reasons.

      Tesla ranks as the top brand that people are avoiding, with China listed as the most-rejected country for production.

      The study highlights an increasing divide among affordability, politics, and consumer perception.

      Electric car consumers have long held strong opinions. In discussions with 10 EV drivers about their motivations for going electric, responses vary from environmental concerns to cost savings, to simply enjoying high torque. However, a new global study suggests that many individuals are now opting to choose or avoid brands based on political influences.

      The Global EV Alliance conducted a survey of over 26,000 EV owners across 30 countries and found that a significant number of EV drivers consciously avoid certain brands or countries due to political considerations.

      Tesla emerges as the brand most commonly avoided, while China is recognized as the country of origin that people are most likely to reject.

      What Influences EV Buyer Loyalty?

      Among those who mentioned avoiding specific brands, 41 percent pointed to Tesla, a surprising statistic for a company that essentially pioneered the modern mass-market EV industry. Twelve percent identified China as a country of origin to avoid, while 5 percent of participants declared that they avoid US-manufactured EVs entirely.

      The study did not specify which political issues contribute to the aversion to Tesla, but it is not difficult to infer the respondents' concerns. CEO Elon Musk has, over recent years, navigated numerous political controversies, social media disputes, and questionable gestures that have spurred everything from opinion pieces in newspapers to calls for boycotts.

      While some Tesla owners appear willing to dissociate the vehicle from the CEO, others find Musk’s off-the-road antics have rendered the brand unacceptable. A recent report suggested that his behavior has led to a loss of over a million sales for the company.

      Which brands or countries would you choose to avoid for political reasons?

      The survey uncovers intriguing regional differences. In the US, Germany, the UK, Australia, and even EV-enthusiastic Norway, over 45 percent of EV drivers reported they would avoid Tesla, indicating that the home market of the brand and the world’s largest EV users are among the least forgiving.

      Conversely, in India and Hungary, only 2 percent and 6 percent of EV owners, respectively, stated they would avoid the brand.

      The Impact of Country of Origin

      EVs manufactured in China also experience varying levels of acceptance, with avoidance ratings ranging from 2 percent (Italy, Poland) to 43 percent (Lithuania). These differences may be attributed to the balance of availability and affordability. In developing markets, Chinese EVs are predominant in the lower-cost segment, meaning that political preferences occasionally become secondary to price and practicality.

      However, as global EV sales continue to climb and drivers enjoy more options, brand identity and origin are increasingly significant. It is no longer solely a matter of range and charging speed; consumers are paying attention to the manufacturers, the countries of origin, and even the social media activities of these companies.

      If automakers weren’t already mindful of their public perception, this survey provides them with additional reasons to proceed with caution. In the world of EVs, it turns out that politics can be as crucial as performance. You can access the complete study here.