Filipos, an ardent Tesla supporter interviewed by The Guardian, joined a broad group of people who had been anticipating the Cybertruck launch. His commitment to Tesla Motors extended far beyond ownership of two vehicles since he felt eager to acquire a third one. Elon Musk’s double Nazi salute at Donald Trump’s inauguration event in January caused Filipos to completely change his view of the situation. Filipos reached his tipping point during this moment, so he exchanged his Model 3 for an Acura and selected a Ford F-150 Lightning instead of buying the Cybertruck.
The way Filipos feels about Tesla vehicles matches what many Tesla owners currently experience. Many Tesla vehicle owners who first bought their cars for technological innovation and environmental reasons are now questioning their loyalty because of Musk’s growing political extremism and controversial public behavior. Reddit and TikTok users post numerous pictures showing Tesla owners who celebrate selling their vehicles. Some Tesla owners have displayed their vehicle departure with flipping off gestures in their final Tesla pictures.
Singer Sheryl Crow stands among numerous prominent figures who have joined the anti-Musk movement. On Valentine’s Day she sold her Tesla to donate the money to NPR while demonstrating her opposition to Musk’s influence on Trump’s administration. Activist groups have created the term “Swasticar” to identify Tesla vehicles, while some members choose destructive methods by painting swastikas on Cybertrucks.
The company Tesla has experienced declining sales, particularly in important markets across California and Europe. The drastic drop in Tesla stock price indicates that Musk’s political stance has negatively affected customer trust in the company despite other market forces affecting the EV market. The decision to sever ties with Tesla represents a moral stance to Filipos, who joins numerous others in this position. According to him, the company feels weightless now that they no longer carry a hateful symbol.
