'Bought Before Elon Went Crazy' Sticker Trend
"Right-Wing Image Due to Trump Support"
Seller "Considering Car Owners' Complaints"
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, on stage at a rally supporting Republican candidate Donald Trump held last October at Madison Square Garden in New York. Photo by Yonhap News
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, the world's largest electric vehicle company, has been seen aligning with President Donald Trump, and among Tesla vehicle owners, unique stickers are becoming popular.
On the 9th (local time), the British daily Financial Times (FT) reported that stickers with phrases such as "Bought before Elon (Musk) went crazy" and "Bought before it was known Elon was a crazy X" have gained popularity among Tesla electric vehicle owners in the United States. These stickers appeared at the end of 2022 when Musk acquired Twitter (now X), and various types are being sold on online platforms such as Etsy and Amazon.
Some Tesla owners purchase and display these stickers to express dissatisfaction with Musk's political stance and actions. This is because Musk's support for Donald Trump, who ran as the Republican candidate in the U.S. presidential election, has increased the perception that Tesla is a brand with right-wing political leanings. As a result, existing Tesla owners are reportedly looking into other brand vehicles or buying these stickers. This trend is especially noticeable among owners with politically progressive tendencies.
A Tesla owner purchased and attached a sticker that reads, "This car was bought before Elon Musk went crazy." Amazon.com
FT stated, "After Musk acquired Twitter and renamed it X, he has continued to post right-wing political content and conspiracy theory endorsements," adding, "He also donated $250 million (about 360 billion KRW) in political funds to Trump's campaign." Consequently, some people have suggested that Musk's overt political stance has affected Tesla's sales. In fact, Tesla's sales performance from the first to third quarters this year recorded about 471,000 units, a 5% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Joe Schiffer, a San Diego resident who purchased a Tesla vehicle in 2011, told FT, "I'm not someone who publicly expresses political views, but Musk actively expressing his stance is frustrating," adding, "Owning a Tesla is like wearing a 'MAGA' hat." MAGA stands for "Make America Great Again," the slogan used by Trump in this election.
FT also introduced the opinion of Matthew Hiller, who first created the sticker. Hiller said, "Seeing Musk openly support Trump, I thought many Tesla owners would be dissatisfied," and added, "Those buying Teslas now know what kind of person Musk is. Tesla has had an image as a progressive car, so Musk's actions will affect future sales."
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