Disgust at the CEO’s rightwing activism is casting a pall but conservatives are no more likely to buy EVs

Disgust at the CEO’s rightwing activism is casting a pall but conservatives are no more likely to buy EVs

US liberals have become so disgusted with Tesla since Elon Musk’s rightward turn that they are now not only far less likely to purchase the car brand but also less willing to buy any type of electric car, new research has found.

The popularity of Tesla among liberal-minded Americans has plummeted since Musk, Tesla’s chief executive and the world’s richest person, allied himself with Donald Trump and helped propel the president to election victory last year.

While liberals reported mostly positive intentions around buying an electric car in August 2023, their overall support for EVs eroded in the wake of a collapse in their opinion of Teslas, according to the new study, which polled Americans on an array of environmental actions.

  • FlexibleToast@lemmy.worldEnglish
    51·
    11 days ago

    I don’t think Slate has a chance to hit that price point anymore. The Trump administration is cutting EV incentives and Slate has started changing their wording on the price. Now Slate lists it as “mid twenties”. That’s a lot to pay for a small vehicle with no features.

    • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
      5·
      11 days ago

      Their configurator with max spec is like $30k. If they can hit under $30k at release on a base model, I am interested. A base model Civic is $25k MSRP, a model 3 is $35k, and a Nissan Leaf is $30k.

      I would be glad to be an early adopter in the hopes they can come out with an extended cab AWD with 400 miles of range that I can later swap to.

      • FlexibleToast@lemmy.worldEnglish
        12·
        11 days ago

        “Max spec” is closer to base specs on other vehicles. That 30k is likely an optimistic number. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m not expecting much from Slate. Maybe they’ll drive enough buzz to get the market to realize there is a demand for smaller, more affordable vehicles.

        • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
          41·
          11 days ago

          If Tesla can hit $35k with all crap they put in them, I am feeling optimistic about slate.

          The kei truck popularity is enough of a display that we want tiny trucks, and with states trying to ban Kei trucks it presents a nice opportunity for the slate to do well.

          • FlexibleToast@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            11 days ago

            If Tesla can hit $35k with all crap they put in them

            That’s the neat part, they can’t. That $35k they advertise is with the $7500 rebate already applied. Remove that and the price is $42,500.