Tesla for years had more repeat U.S. customers than any other major automotive brand but its loyalty has plunged since CEO Elon Musk endorsed President Donald Trump last summer, according to data from research firm S&P Global Mobility shared exclusively with Reuters.
The data, which has not been previously reported, shows Tesla’s customer loyalty peaked in June 2024, when 73% of Tesla-owning households in the market for a new car bought another Tesla, according to an S&P analysis of vehicle-registration data in all 50 states.
That industry-leading brand loyalty rate started to nosedive in July, that data showed, when Musk endorsed Trump following an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on the Republican nominee.
Uh, let’s be clear. It’s not just because he endorsed Trump. It’s because he had a torrid love affair with Maga and Naziism, tried to overtly buy elections, wrecked the federal government and the lives of tens of thousands of workers, caused death and misery, and was generally an unlikable prick.
All that, and also Tesla is no longer the best electric car on the market. For a long time they were ahead of the competition, but that was years ago. Today you can get a better car, for less money, AND you don’t give a nazi your money. Why would people stick with Tesla?
That’s true too. My Hyundai is better than any of the many Teslas I’ve sat in as a passenger.
Love my Kia ev6, and because I got it used it was only like 23k after shipping. Hell of a lot of car for the price.
I would almost certainly own a Tesla right now. Instead, I’m really enjoying my Ioniq 6.
Also I get all the self driving features I need without having to pay out the ass for it
They don’t even have Lidar.
Was it ever?
I don’t remember a year when they didn’t have QC problems while over promising and under delivering.
Sure. When they were effectively the only EV maker on the market. It should be noted that they were also the worst.
Yes, when it was the only one on the market.
Sure but people who think critically like that are not brand loyal.
Wow, those must be some shitty cars if you have to buy another one in that short of a time frame
Not really though. My brother bought a Model 3 when they first came out and loved it so much he traded it in for a Model 3 Performance version a couple years later. Then he bought his wife a Model Y. Some people (with money) buy cars every couple of years.
Since Elon started doing Nazi salutes and started ripping up the government with DOGE, my brother traded in both cars for an F150 Lightning and a Rivian R1S. He’ll never buy a Tesla again as long as Musk is involved.
I know several people who currently have Teslas but won’t buy another. Brand loyalty is absolutely in the shitter.
I have an ex who would penny-pinch the little things that would have made me happy, like using 2-ply toilet paper, claiming that it was too expensive. But then the MFer would buy a brand new car every year.
So yeah, you’re right. Some people truly do buy new cars every year. I can’t understand it, and I especially can’t understand it when the person buying the car claims to be “an environmentalist” (like my ex) without considering the massive environmental impact of building/buying/shipping new cars instead of using one you already own. Just another example of some people having more money than sense, I guess.
Yeah my brother always complains he’s broke, but buys a new car every year or two. It’s wild to me.
Also, if someone is using single-ply toilet paper and driving a new car, they gotta fix their priorities.
This is an example of not thinking critically.
Actually it was pretty impressive. It was during COVID where used cars were going for a ton. He had originally bought “Full Self Driving” on his original car, but then found out that wasn’t a real thing. He was able to trade in his rear wheel drive car with 40K miles on it for a brand new all wheel drive Model 3 Performance, getting rid of Full Self Driving, and it only cost him like $2 grand.
If someone offered to give me the lastest model of my car, shaved a second off the 0-60 time, made it AWD, and rolled back the odometer 40K miles for $2k, - I’d take that in a heartbeat.
You’re right, it does sound like he got extremely lucky.
This is another example of a lack of critical thinking.
Now you’re just being a jek. Dude enjoyed his teslas, so what? I appreciate that when he found his values didn’t align with the company he went and did something about it instead of slapping on some stupid “before musk was crazy” sticker.
Get off your high horse and learn to just appreciate when people change their minds.