59 percent of drivers say they would not buy a Tesla because of Elon Musk, the brand’s CEO (Image: Getty)
has been dealt another devastating blow after a new study has found that an increasing number of Brits refuse to buy a car from the company due to an unusual reason.
As by 45 percent, a new study from the experts noted that they would not buy one due to the company’s .
Ginny Buckley, Chief Executive of Electrifying.com, noted that the company’s polarising leader is one of a number of factors why many Brits are turning away from the brand.
She explained: “There’s no doubt that revolutionised the EV market, but recent research with our audience at Electrifying.com reveals a surprising shift – 59 percent say is putting them off .
“But while our findings show Musk’s influence on the brand is becoming increasingly polarising, it’s too simplistic to attribute the drop in sales to that.”
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According to the SMMT, Tesla sales fell 7.78 percent in the UK during January 2025 (Image: Getty)
Founded in 2003 by American engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Tesla first entered the public eye in 2008, when became CEO and introduced the company’s first model – the Lotus Elise-based Roadster.
Whilst the company quickly gained support for its wide range of advanced electric models, including the Model S and Model 3, recent months have seen demand fall as Mr Musk begins his Governmental role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The billionaire has divided motorists due to some of his political thoughts, supporting the activist Tommy Robinson and the far-right AfD Party in Germany.
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To boost sales, Tesla has announced a new version of the Model Y, which will be £2,000 cheaper (Image: Tesla)
However, Ginny noted that other factors, including an ageing range of models in the face of ever-stronger competition, has contributed to a sales slump.
She added: “Tesla has an ageing model lineup and, with over 130 mainstream EV models now available in the UK – compared to just 25 in 2020 when we launched Electrifying.com – competition has never been fiercer.
“Tesla is already feeling the pressure from Chinese entrants into the European market and given that consumers now have more choice than ever, its dominance is no longer guaranteed.”
To help compete against the latest wave of electric models coming from Chinese and Western brands alike, Tesla is set to release a refreshed version of its popular Model Y crossover.
The new Tesla Model Y features sharper styling than before, adding a set of sleeker headlights and creases that can also be found in the latest version of the Model 3.
The company has also tweaked the crossover’s range, with the entry-level version now able to cover up to 311 miles per charge, and slashed the starting price to £44,990.