Electric Vehicles

500 readers

1031 users here now

Electric Vehicles are a key part of our tomorrow and how we get there. If we can get all the fossil fuel vehicles off our roads, out of our seas and out of our skies, we'll have a much better environment. This community is where we discuss the various different vehicles and news stories regarding electric transportation.

Related communities:

founded 7 months ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

663

25% of Americans Avoiding Tesla Tech Because of Elon Musk (cleantechnica.com)

submitted 21 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

107 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] RoidingOldMan 44 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (5 children)

Sad that it's only 25%.

I can’t think of anything else as significant in consumer product sales.

Some people may still be boycotting Chick Fil A and Hobby Lobby. Though I doubt if it's 25%.

[–] bitchkat 1 points 11 minutes ago

I don't go to Chick Fil A because their chicken is gross and soggy. But I still wouldn't eat there if it was good because the company is gross.

[–] reddig33 2 points 11 hours ago

That would be me. I don’t shop at either. Neither do my friends or family. Don’t give money to companies that use it to actively persecute you and your friends.

[–] DarkFuture 21 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I still boycott Chic-Fil-Subpar.

I've had it for free a couple times and I cannot understand what the hype is all about. I can go down the street to a mom and pop place and get a way better chicken sandwich for the same price and I don't have to wait in a line wrapping around the block. It's definitely some cult behavior.

But yeah, I have LGBTQ people in my life so I don't need to support an anti-LGBTQ corporation. Unfortunately, most Americans like tasty treats and shiny objects more than morality or accountability.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 12 hours ago

Yep, I don't eat at Bigot Bird, either.

I have good memories of eating there with my dad in the 90s and I guess it was fine? But I know better now and I'm too queer for their BS.

I'd break my "don't eat X animal species" dietary restrictions before I ate there.

[–] officermike 18 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I'm still among those people. On the rare occasion that I am presented with no option for food other than Chik-Fil-A, I find their food disgusting. I only have two data points - nuggets and hash browns - and both were excessively greasy, bland turds.

My girlfriend's mom gifted her a Hobby Lobby gift card. We regifted it back to her the following year.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I only have two data points - nuggets and hash browns - and both were excessively greasy, bland turds.

I fully support folks boycotting Chik-Fil-A, but you went to a store known for their chicken sandwiches and then got other things. Their sandwiches are basic but good. I don't enjoy their nuggets or hash browns either.

[–] bitchkat 1 points 10 minutes ago

Their chicken is soggy and disgusting.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I kinda hate that Elon is the issue for 25% of people and not the fact Tesla is using regular cameras instead of LiDAR

[–] [email protected] 3 points 13 hours ago

Not sure about the value of LiDAR, but their inability to integrate ANY multimodal sensors (RADAR or even SONAR parking sensors which are no longer on ANY of their vehicles) points to either an unwillingness/inability to solve the engineering problem of integration, penny pinching, or both. I bought a demo Model 3 in 2019 (it’s a 2018) which has ultrasound sensors (for now? It used to also have RADAR) and as our family has grown a Y would be a much better fit for us. But no chance I’m buying another Tesla.