Republican Hopes For The Musk–Trump Collab Have Confirmed Unrealistic

I merely wrote about some disappointments I’ve with Democrats regarding EV perceptions and EV adoption within the USA. Nevertheless, based on the similar new analysis, there’s clearly some unhealthy info for Republicans who’re moreover Tesla and EV followers.

As Elon Musk alienated, angered, upset, and horrified Democrats beforehand 12 months, I consider all people anticipated that Tesla product sales to Democrats would decline. However, many Tesla followers/shareholders hoped that at least as many Republicans will be flipped and can be part of the Tesla market. Historically, Democrats have been additional most likely to buy EVs, so this could be an exact various. In precise truth, some followers (or superfans) thought this was actually good 4D chess from Elon Musk and it was all about growing the Tesla market and selling additional EVs. If solely….

Product sales experiences have confirmed us that Tesla undoubtedly isn’t selling additional cars. It’s selling fairly a bit a lot much less. Now, this new analysis confirms what presumably occurred with Elon Musk transferring into politics in an extreme method. He glad Democrats to stop searching for Teslas, nonetheless he didn’t persuade many additional Republicans to start searching for them. In precise truth, throughout the grand scheme of points, it seems he barely moved the needle on convincing additional conservatives to be open to buying an EV.

that first chart from August 2023, conservative curiosity in searching for an EV was almost the similar as a result of it was in March 2025. Information on Tesla notably didn’t pop in until November 2023. The willingness amongst conservatives to buy a Tesla then is as soon as extra not lots completely completely different from the willingness amongst conservatives to buy a Tesla in March 2025.

Within the meantime … with almost no revenue in relation to Republican shopper curiosity and an enormous hit in Democrat shopper curiosity, assorted subsidies for electrical cars have been killed, help for EV charging infrastructure has been kneecapped, gasoline financial system necessities are being slashed, the US authorities is attacking states’ rights to require lower CO2 emissions from automakers, oil corporations are being extra backed, and tariffs are being positioned on key elements {of electrical} autos (and cars typically). Profitable?

Moreover, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have had an unlimited falling out, so the idea the Trump administration will most likely be kinder and looser on Tesla just about self-driving tech and completely different points is one factor that’s however to be confirmed.

I don’t see how anyone could conclude that Elon Musk transferring into far right-wing politics has been an excellent issue for Tesla. As a substitute, it seems to have been disastrously unhealthy.

To complete, let me merely phrase one motive that I on a regular basis thought Tesla wouldn’t get a comparable rise in shopper demand from Republicans as it would get a drop from Democrats. When Elon Musk was “apolitical,” anyone who had curiosity in EVs and new tech like Tesla was bringing to market could take pleasure in and love the mannequin, each not caring what Musk’s politics had been or not being confronted with them. Getting super political, he was clearly going to drive some people away from the mannequin, nonetheless that didn’t suggest that he was going to get people fascinated by new tech, EVs, and such who weren’t already naturally fascinated by these points. Any person who principally cares regarding the subsequent college soccer recreation or {{golfing}} isn’t going to swiftly flip right into a techie. That merely didn’t make lots sense, previous a restricted impression. And this present analysis appears to be proving that. Merely wait and see what happens if Musk and Trump keep attacking each other….

I understand why Republican Tesla followers would have hoped and wished and presumably even strongly believed it could be completely completely different. Nevertheless, as we’re capable of see, it was solely a horrible, idiotic decision — from a Tesla angle on the very least — for Elon Musk to go 100% “MAGA.”