One Tesla driver says he is getting a Polestar instead as he doesn't agree with Musk's political alignments
Tesla sales are down with some drivers blaming Elon Musk’s contentious comments and political movements as a reason for selling up their own vehicles.
One Tesla driver has revealed how he will be giving up his car as a direct result of Musk’s comments and actions – saying it’s “unfashionable” and he “doesn’t like Musk’s impact on world politics.”
The motorist, who wishes to remain anonymous, said as a dad and business owner who lives in London, the car is ideal for his family’s needs – but he can no longer stand to have such a vehicle.
Tesla, a brand co-founded by the billionaire Musk, has seen stocks plummet and people turning their attention to other EV brands as a result of his recent actions.
This includes his involvement in the Trump administration, criticising safeguarding minister Jess Phillips and defending jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
‘Why we’re giving up our Tesla’
In 2022, the driver and his wife decided to lease a Model Y, wanting to make the switch to an electric car after the birth of their daughter meant they were trying to be more environmentally conscious.
He initially took out a three-year lease, as they had some “range anxiety” about the distance they could drive in between charges.
In the intervening years, he said the family have been fully converted to electric cars, describing the Model Y as a “brilliant” vehicle.
The couple put a £11,000 downpayment on the car when they took out the lease, subsequently paying £600 per month.
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On a recent trip to the North of England, he said the rapid charging facilities along the way, which take around 40 minutes, were convenient.
He said: “We came to the end of the three-year lease and thought we would roll onto a brand-new Tesla. But then we decided that based on Elon Musk’s behaviour, we’d just continue our current lease and look for something else.”
“There was a tipping point after the election where it became unfashionable to drive a Tesla,” he recalled.
He said that people were increasingly asking about his thoughts on Musk, just because he drove a Tesla. As someone who “doesn’t like Musk’s impact on world politics”, this was a major reason he wanted to leave the brand behind.
While he had been converted to EVs, he said he won’t support Tesla as long as Musk is still involved in the company.
Instead, he planned to get a Polestar next, on the basis of a personal recommendation. “We’ve got some friends that had a Tesla and they got a Polestar already, because of Musk,” he said.
He recalled a time around in the summer of 2024 when people started asking him what he thought about Musk, on the basis that he drove a Tesla.
“There’s a sense that you’re riding around in something that directly benefits Musk, and he’s a clown,” he said.
“The problem is that Musk is Tesla. It’s unavoidable that you tie the two together,” he added. “If he stepped down from Tesla, I would definitely keep it. I love that car.”
Tesla sales deteriorate – but other EVs see boost
The Tesla Model Y, a compact SUV, was the best-selling EV in the UK in 2024, but the company, synonymous with its owner, is suffering from Musk’s deteriorating reputation.
More than $800bn (£597bn) has been wiped off Tesla’s market cap in the first three months of the year and Tesla shares are down 21 per cent.
Sales in the first quarter are down 21 per cent on the same period in 2024.
However, the share price has been going up in the past week after it was announced Musk was stepping back from his department of government efficiency (Doge) work.
Experts have warned that the end of the road tax exemption on EVs, as of 1 April, could also discourage potential future buyers.
As the Government reduces their commitment to the electric transition, EVs now have to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) which means their owners will pay £195 in road tax per year.
Dr James Morris, editor of WhichEV, said: “The Government is relaxing its EV targets, but that isn’t affecting current drivers so much as more new purchasers. The big issue was the introduction of VED tax for all new EVs from April, and the ‘expensive car supplement’.
“This applies to cars over £40,000, and because EVs tend to be more expensive than non-EVs, it affects EV purchases more.”
The average cost of an electric car in the UK last year was £50,873, according to the Electric Car Guide. This means many EV drivers will actually face road tax costs totaling £620 per year for the first five years.
Despite the road tax introduction and the Government revising its zero-emission mandate to 2035, Morris said: “There is no disaster happening in the UK regarding battery electric vehicle (BEV) take-up.
“Yes, the volumes are failing to meet the zero-emission vehicle mandate targets, but there is still growth and as more people experience BEVs, they’ll realise the benefits. These are cheaper per-mile running costs, lower maintenance, and greater reliability.”
He noted that EVs have “significantly improved their market share” from 15.2 per cent in March 2024 up to 19.4 per cent in March in 2025.
“The bigger issue will be the fact that new buyers won’t be early adopters, who very frequently have their own home charging. The Government needs to continue pressure on making it easier and cheaper to charge a BEV if you don’t have off-street parking and your own charger,” Morris said.
