Teslas were a symbol of progressive values. Now some progressives are ditching the cars.

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

March 17, 2025, 3:36 PM EDT


It was not enough for Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., to announce that he had gotten rid of his Tesla. He did it on X, the social media platform headed by Elon Musk, who took over as CEO of the electric vehicle company in 2008.

Kelly made his reason for abandoning the car that one time represented progress and automotive and environmental achievement: Musk and his politics. “Every time I get in this car in the last 60 days or so, it reminds me of just how much damage Elon Musk and Donald Trump is doing to our country,” Kelly posted.

Other well-known figures have dumped Teslas as well, including actor Jason Bateman, who said driving it was like “driving around with a Trump sticker” back in October.

Music star Sheryl Crow made a video to announce she had sold her Tesla. She donated the money from the sale to NPR, posting: “My parents always said … you are who you hang out with. There comes a time when you have to decide who you are willing to align with. So long, Tesla.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/progressives-selling-getting-rid-teslas-elon-musk-rcna196058

[Walleye]

1. It's just sad, and it's unbelievable how much misery one man can cause

[boonecreek]

2. Former Chicago news anchor

and current progressive talk radio host Joan Esposito dumped her Tesla a couple of weeks ago. I have to wonder how much she got for it because EV resale values aren't all that great and Tesla are probably even worse.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. I am guessing you have a segment of the population

who are "upper middle class" (and higher) who are (or have become) "apolitical", and may even have one already (perhaps an older model) and would be willing to add another and/or "upgrade", if the price was right.

I would also posit that in some cases, you may have MAGats who are "medium-size" business owners (e.g., they might own a "chain" of something - restaurants, bars, clubs, auto dealerships, etc.) who embrace Musk, and who might now want to try these cars out for the first time.

[Martin68]

4. There was a time, a few years ago, when I decided my next car was going to be a Tesla. There is no way in hell now that

I would buy a Tesla.

[RobinA]

5. I Always Thought

a Tesla was a way of riding down the road announcing you have a lot of money. Never thought there was anything progressive about it.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. "Never thought there was anything progressive about it."

It doesn't do this -

[Zorro]

7. Tesla helped break the grip oil companies had on the automobile industry

It's one of the reasons I bought one; $5/gal gas gets expensive after a while...

My Tesla just turned 10 years old and is still the best car I've ever owned; I have lost about 10% of the original battery capacity, but it's still capable of being driven cross-country -- which I just did last month. And the Model Y is the Swiss army knife of cars; they're everywhere in SoCal.

Tesla builds pretty decent cars, and they sparked the now competitive EV market space; they're having to promote some very attractive deals to lure customers in, but Musk has really poisoned the brand.

Stock is dropping like a rock again today, I noticed. I think it's going to continue to fall for quite a while.

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. My friends loved their Tesla. Now they

are worried.

[BigmanPigman]

8. A Tesla dealership near San Diego was vandalized, too.

https://www.sdsheriff.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3312/

Las Vegas and Kansas City also were targeted within the last 24 hours.