A significant new study has quantified a political backlash against Tesla, finding that more than 40 percent of electric vehicle drivers worldwide would avoid the brand due to the political stances of its controversial CEO, Elon Musk.
Global Sentiment Against Tesla
The survey, published on behalf of the Global EV Alliance, queried more than 26,000 electric car owners across 30 countries in September and October 2025. When asked which brand or country of production they would avoid for political reasons, a striking 41 percent of all EV drivers named Tesla.
This sentiment was not uniform across the globe. Reservations against Tesla were found to be particularly strong in the United States, where 52 percent of respondents expressed a desire to avoid the brand. In Germany, the figure was 51 percent, while in Australia and New Zealand, it was 45 percent. Even in Norway, a world leader in EV adoption, 43 percent of drivers said they would avoid a Tesla. In stark contrast, only two percent of respondents in India shared this view.
Broader Political Boycotts in the EV Market
The research highlights that political considerations are a growing factor in the automotive market. Overall, 53 percent of EV drivers stated they would avoid certain brands or countries of production for political reasons. After Tesla, the next most-avoided category was China, cited by 12 percent of drivers, followed by the United States itself, named by five percent.
Attitudes towards Chinese-made EVs showed significant regional disparities. For instance, 43 percent of Lithuanian drivers said they would avoid Chinese EVs, compared to just two percent of drivers in Italy and Poland. Ellen Hiep, a member of the Global EV Alliance steering committee, explained to AFP that this is likely connected to availability and affordability, noting that consumers in the Global South often have fewer choices than those in Europe and the U.S.
The Musk Factor and Quantifying the Boycott
The study provides hard data to a phenomenon that has been difficult to measure: the impact of calls to boycott Tesla. Elon Musk, the world's richest person, has drawn criticism for his high-profile political activities. These have included his close association with former U.S. President Donald Trump, his support for European far-right movements, public criticism of diversity policies, and a gesture widely interpreted as a Nazi salute.
This survey, with its results weighted based on each country's share of the global EV market, offers a clear snapshot of how these actions are influencing consumer perception and potential buying decisions among the very demographic Tesla targets.
