A recent study reveals that Elon Musk’s increasingly right-wing political stance, including his support for Donald Trump and controversial behaviour, has significantly damaged the appeal of Tesla and electric vehicles (EVs) more broadly among US liberals. Once strong supporters of EVs for their climate benefits, many liberals are now so disillusioned with Musk that their overall interest in buying any EV has dropped into negative territory. Despite Tesla gaining favour among conservatives, this hasn’t translated into higher EV sales, as many Republicans still associate electric cars with liberal environmentalism and remain uninterested. Meanwhile, Tesla's US sales fell 12% in Q2 2025, and the EV market overall has seen a dip in growth, especially in California, where Tesla registrations have declined for seven consecutive quarters. The situation is likely to worsen with the elimination of a key $7,500 federal EV tax credit starting in September, signed into law by Trump. Analysts warn that the politicisation of EVs, driven largely by Musk’s divisive persona, could stall progress in reducing emissions from the transportation sector, which is the largest source of climate pollution in the US. However, some experts remain hopeful that the broader EV market can eventually distance itself from Musk’s influence and regain momentum among environmentally conscious buyers.
Full Article:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/30/elon-musk-tesla-liberals-electric-vehicles
