In recent weeks, Tesla has faced significant challenges: its stock has plummeted over 50% since December; sales in California are declining; Cybertruck deliveries are on hold due to quality concerns; protests are occurring outside Tesla showrooms nationwide; and some Tesla owners are selling their cars to avoid negative associations.
Moreover, according to YouGov data, public sentiment towards Tesla has reached its lowest point since tracking began in 2016. The market research firm conducts daily surveys to measure consumer perception of the brand. (Sherwood first reported the findings.)
As of March 12th, Tesla’s net impression across the political spectrum is -12.8. This measurement indicates whether consumers have a positive or negative view of the brand. The company scores even lower with liberals at -35.5, while moderates stand at -9.2. Conservatives are the only group viewing Tesla positively, with a score of 7.5.
YouGov also assesses the likelihood of consumers purchasing a Tesla. The data shows that only about 8% of liberals would consider buying one, down from 12% at the start of 2022. Interestingly, conservative interest has risen slightly from 6.7% to 8.4%. However, these figures still lag behind the average response rate for all automakers, where 10% of the general population expresses interest in purchasing a vehicle.
Additional signs indicate that Tesla’s sales are slowing. In the U.S., new registrations fell 11% in January compared to the previous year, as reported by Automotive News. This decline follows reports of significant drops in sales across several European nations, including France, Norway, Spain, and Germany.
As Tesla navigates this downturn, CEO Elon Musk is attempting to leverage his relationship with the White House. Recently, President Donald Trump hosted a promotional event where he transformed the White House driveway into a pop-up Tesla showroom, promoting the brand while vowing to purchase a vehicle. This event coincided with The New York Times reporting on Musk’s plans to contribute an additional $100 million to Trump-related initiatives.
