"The Sticker on Tesla: 'This Car Was Bought Before Musk Went Crazy'"

Sticker Expressing Complaints Toward Musk
"Will Affect Tesla Sales Volume"

According to the British Financial Times (FT) on the 9th (local time), an increasing number of Tesla owners are expressing discomfort with Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, who supports U.S. President Donald Trump.

Progressive-leaning Tesla owners, who purchased electric vehicles out of environmental concerns, have grown disappointed with the brand as Elon Musk openly displays his political stance. Among some owners, it has become a trend to put stickers on their vehicles expressing dissatisfaction with Musk.

The sticker on the back of the car reads, "I bought this car before Elon Musk went crazy." Screenshot from the online shopping mall Etsy

As the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the U.S., Tesla has long been regarded as an eco-friendly and progressive brand responding to climate change.

Elon Musk actively supported Trump in the U.S. presidential election held on the 5th of last month, earning Trump’s trust and being called his "First Buddy." He has also been named co-head of the newly planned Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Trump’s second-term administration.

The FT reported, “As Musk takes increasingly right-wing and conspiratorial positions on his own social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and pours more than $250 million (about 356.7 billion KRW) into Trump’s campaign, some consumers’ interest in the Tesla brand is waning.”

It added, "Only 10% of new cars sold in the U.S. are electric vehicles, but Tesla accounts for half of that."

Joe Schiffer, a San Diego resident who bought a Tesla in 2011, told the media, "I am not someone who publicly expresses political views, but unlike me, Musk’s active political stance is frustrating."

Elon Musk (left), CEO of Tesla, and Donald Trump, President-elect of the United States. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

He said, “Owning a Tesla is like wearing a ‘MAGA’ hat.” MAGA stands for “Make America Great Again,” the slogan Trump used in the election.

Recently, stickers with phrases such as "Anti-Elon Tesla Club" and "I bought this sticker before Elon went crazy" have appeared in the U.S.

Matthew Hiller, the sticker maker, said, “I usually sell 50 a day, but the day after the last election, I sold 300 in one day. It was the highest sales day ever.” He added, “People buying Teslas now know exactly what kind of person Musk is. Since Tesla has traditionally been seen as a progressive car, (Musk’s political moves) will probably affect sales.”