[roorodger]

Hey, I just bought an EV two weeks ago, and the main reason I didn't get a Tesla was Elon. So, I can't speak for other EV car buyers, but this one definitely cared about Elon's "incendiary personality" and not wanting to support him.

[bruce511]

Yeah, but we're outliers in the real world. I mean, you're aware of Elon and Twitter, and read tech news etc.

My mom (quite literally) has never heard of him and certainly doesn't link any decisions she makes to her non-opinion of him.

That said, Tesla's are an opinionated car. You either like the touchscreen interface, lack of familiar car stuff etc, or you don't. You're either prepared to pay premium prices or you aren't.

Fundamentally there are a LOT more EV choices now, filling more market segments.

So sure, Elon's personality absolutely plays a part. He is the "face" of the brand and that matters. Sales have definitely been lost by that.

At the same time, there are many other factors coming into play. It's hard to pull just one out and blame the decine of sales on just that.

[drozycki]

Has your mom heard of Tesla? Would she think of EVs when it’s time to buy a car? These are not fully mainstream consumer markets so the overlap between “aware of Elon” and “potential Tesla buyer” may be greater than you think. Tesla is famous for having low/no marketing spend, relying instead on word of mouth. Elon has always been at the center of the brand.

[red-iron-pine]

your mom isn't a tech bro with money to spare and multiple twitter handles. which are historically tesla's main audience.

i also find it hard to believe your mom has never heard of elon musk, the richest man in the world, and who is discussed on like every media outlet ever.

he is not the "face" of the brand, like some athlete on a box of wheaties, he's a chief executive and is actively determining the direction of the company; the cybertruck was his idea.