Tesla Boycotts and Political Associations in the Automotive World + Commentary on the Right Wing Protests Currently in the UK
Is there a political divide growing over Tesla? Yes, you read that right. It seems that some people are ditching Tesla, not because they have problems with electric cars or because the cars are not properly developed and built, but because of Elon Musk’s apparent political antics. Should your car choice be dictated by the politics of the company’s founder? Does it make you complicit in supporting a worldview you don’t subscribe to, fearing online trolls calling you out and cancelling you for driving the wrong car?
In all seriousness, considering what is happening currently in the UK, with far-right mobs attacking mosques and minorities, it’s all very disturbing, but vitally relevant. People are becoming too conscious of being caught on the wrong side of a political divide, especially when politics is rarely black and white. It’s all just a depressing murky grey.
Elon Musk, what a character. Richest man in the world, some think he’s the Tony Stark of the real world. That would imply he’s a prodigal genius. I’m not so sure. Tony Stark constructed a metal suit out of scrap to escape death and saved the world, several times, ultimately saving half the universe.
Musk made his fame and fortune from creating an online system that allows people to send money and buy stuff relatively securely—Paypal. Handy, sure, but it doesn’t quite make him a saviour of humanity. Since then, he’s ventured into orbit with Space X and bought Twitter, renaming it X. Along the way, he made electric cars sexy, fun, and desirable with Tesla, which became the most popular EV brand until Chinese company BYD took over the top spot for EV sales.
Now, Musk has gone from quirky tech billionaire to full-on Twitter-warrior, or rather X-Warrior. It seems he’s been throwing his weight behind right-wing rhetoric, saying about the Democrats: “They have become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican.” Consequently, some left-leaning car buyers are cancelling their Tesla orders, willing to lose their deposits to avoid being seen in what they fear might become the new MAGA hat.
Should your car choice be dictated by the politics of the company’s founder?”
Several drivers told CNN they’ve backed out of purchasing a Tesla due to Elon Musk’s political views. In interviews with 12 recent car buyers, multiple drivers said they had ditched a Tesla product—leaving deposits like $250 on the table—because of Musk’s recent behaviour on Twitter. “I don’t want to be seen as a rich jerk, and I don’t want to be seen as a political conservative, libertarian free speech warrior,” one of them reportedly said.
While not meaning to defend Musk in any way, I question whether it’s fair to judge a car by its CEO’s political stance. Let’s rewind through history and remind ourselves that VW wouldn’t be one of the world’s biggest companies if we adhered to that philosophy. The VW Beetle was commissioned by Adolf Hitler as a ‘people’s car’ (Volkswagen means ‘people’s car’ in German). Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the Beetle was supposed to symbolise the Third Reich’s technological prowess.
After the war, it took a lead in restarting the German car industry. Advertisers in America famously faced the conundrum of ‘how to sell a Nazi car to Jews’ less than 15 years after World War II. These clever marketing mad men succeeded, and the Beetle became the darling of the flower power generation and the world’s best-selling car until the Toyota Corolla overtook it. The Beetle went from Nazi prop to peace symbol faster than you can say air-cooled.
“The VW Beetle went from Nazi prop to peace symbol faster than you can say air-cooled.”
Porsche, born out of Ferdinand Porsche’s designs, also became symbols of luxury and performance. The Porsche 911 became a 1980s yuppie icon and still sits at the top of the automotive desirability tree today. Similarly, Henry Ford, credited with democratising car ownership and revolutionising production processes, has a legacy marred by his aggressive social engineering of workers’ lives, his bitter opposition to labour unions, and his anti-Semitic views. He published ‘The International Jew,’ a series of pamphlets filled with hate speech. Yet, Ford also made significant contributions to society, including doubling the wages of his workers.
Enzo Ferrari, another example, was a well-known member of the National Fascist Party, seemingly aligning with Benito Mussolini. However, the real truth is that he is known to have cared about little else apart from motor racing, maintaining the fascist facade to remain in the good graces of those in power. If social media had existed then, would he have been denounced and cancelled by trolls?
Today’s reactionary politics are confusing. Left-leaning individuals, usually about saving the planet with hybrids and EVs like the Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf, are shunning Tesla, a former darling of the well-to-do left. On the other hand, right-wingers, typically associated with muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger and Charger, now discontinued, find themselves out of options. Musk might be trying to switch them to charging up their Teslas instead, but it appears to be backfiring.
Victor Tangermann from Futurism said, ‘It’s very likely that Musk himself is contributing to the reputational downfall,’ with Tesla’s ‘consideration’ and ‘trust and like’ scores plummeting by 8%. Stoking prejudice and fanaticism leads to bad outcomes. As a British Asian Muslim, watching the current events in the UK, it’s reminiscent of the racism in 1970s London. The news is despondent and full of despair. Imagine going out with your family and encountering angry mobs or being pulled out of your car because only ‘whites’ are allowed to pass.
“Cars themselves are not political. They’re just cars, meant to serve whoever owns them.”
We’re letting our differences divide us, and it’s gut-wrenching. But can we please leave cars out of this? Cars themselves are not political. They’re just cars, meant to serve whoever owns them. Our car choices should be based on budget, driving style, and personal preference, not the politics of the maker. Those on the left will never move completely to the right, and vice versa. There’s a middle ground where common sense, logic, and moderation reside.
As we navigate these crazy times, let’s strive for peace and understanding. Don’t let politics dictate your car choice. Whether you’re in a Tesla, a petrol beast, or a hybrid, focus on what really matters—performance, reliability, and how it fits your budget. We must not allow politics to dictate our car choices.
Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” Poignant, isn’t it? Especially when we see so much division around us. As much as I love a good political debate, let’s keep it out of our garages and focus on what really drives us.
Drive safe, stay informed, be empathetic, love each other and your neighbour. Remember: your car should be a reflection of your needs and wants, not your political stance. I wish you peace and understanding—please stay safe out there.
“Henry Ford once said, ‘Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.’”
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I was going to buy a Tesla but because of Elon Musk’s pro fascist political actions, I canceled my order and am now.buying an electric Volkswagen
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I disagree with the notion that what you choose to buy is not relevant to the organisation that you buy it from. It is not simply about the optics of how it makes one “look” when buying a Tesla. Purchasing more Teslas will undeniably lead to better profits for Tesla and whoever owns it, thereby further directly enabling Elon Mush himself in his poor public conduct.
Often, the only way to counter extremist views and people who sow social division is to hit them where it matters, ie. their pockets. The successful lawsuit against far-right disinformation propagandist Alex Jones is a good example of this. Choosing to boycott corporations who do not adopt responsible climate or social practices is also another good example of trying to send a clear message that social accountability matters and that we cannot just go on with “business as usual”.
I find the Henry Ford quotation particularly hypocritical. He might have said that, but he surely did not put that notion into practice in his own views towards others. One surely needs to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Otherwise, it is just a lot of hot air.
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