Republican Hopes for the Musk–Trump Collab Have Confirmed Unrealistic

I simply wrote about some disappointments I’ve with Democrats relating to EV perceptions and EV adoption in america. However, primarily based on the identical new examine, there’s clearly some unhealthy information for Republicans who’re additionally Tesla and EV followers.

As Elon Musk alienated, angered, disenchanted, and horrified Democrats up to now 12 months, I believe everybody anticipated that Tesla gross sales to Democrats would decline. Nonetheless, many Tesla followers/shareholders hoped that a minimum of as many Republicans can be flipped and would be a part of the Tesla market. Traditionally, Democrats have been extra possible to purchase EVs, so this may very well be an precise alternative. In truth, some followers (or superfans) thought this was truly sensible 4D chess from Elon Musk and it was all about increasing the Tesla market and promoting extra EVs. If solely….

Gross sales experiences have proven us that Tesla positively isn’t promoting extra vehicles. It’s promoting so much much less. Now, this new examine confirms what presumably occurred with Elon Musk entering into politics in an excessive method. He satisfied Democrats to cease shopping for Teslas, however he didn’t persuade many extra Republicans to start out shopping for them. In truth, within the grand scheme of issues, it appears he barely moved the needle on convincing extra conservatives to be open to purchasing an EV.

that first chart from August 2023, conservative curiosity in shopping for an EV was virtually the identical because it was in March 2025. Information on Tesla particularly didn’t pop in till November 2023. The willingness amongst conservatives to purchase a Tesla then is once more not a lot completely different from the willingness amongst conservatives to purchase a Tesla in March 2025.

In the meantime … with virtually no profit by way of Republican client curiosity and a giant hit in Democrat client curiosity, numerous subsidies for electrical vehicles have been killed, help for EV charging infrastructure has been kneecapped, gasoline financial system requirements are being slashed, the US authorities is attacking states’ rights to require decrease CO2 emissions from automakers, oil corporations are being additional backed, and tariffs are being placed on key parts of electrical automobiles (and vehicles basically). Successful?

Additionally, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have had an enormous falling out, so the concept the Trump administration shall be kinder and looser on Tesla almost about self-driving tech and different issues is one thing that’s but to be confirmed.

I don’t see how anybody might conclude that Elon Musk entering into far right-wing politics has been a superb factor for Tesla. As a substitute, it appears to have been disastrously unhealthy.

To finish, let me simply word one cause that I all the time thought Tesla wouldn’t get a comparable rise in client demand from Republicans as it might get a drop from Democrats. When Elon Musk was “apolitical,” anybody who had curiosity in EVs and new tech like Tesla was bringing to market might take pleasure in and love the model, both not caring what Musk’s politics have been or not being confronted with them. Getting tremendous political, he was clearly going to drive some individuals away from the model, however that didn’t imply that he was going to get individuals excited by new tech, EVs, and such who weren’t already naturally excited by these issues. Somebody who principally cares concerning the subsequent school soccer recreation or {golfing} isn’t going to unexpectedly grow to be a techie. That simply didn’t make a lot sense, past a restricted impression. And this latest examine seems to be proving that. Simply wait and see what occurs if Musk and Trump preserve attacking one another….

I perceive why Republican Tesla followers would have hoped and wished and possibly even strongly believed it might be completely different. However, as we are able to see, it was only a horrible, idiotic determination — from a Tesla angle on the very least — for Elon Musk to go 100% “MAGA.”