Bloomberglast survey of of thousands of Model 3 owners presents a conflicting view of Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, suggesting that while owners are happy with their cars, they are bitter towards Musk himself. The survey, which asked 5,000 Model 3 owners a series of questions about their vehicles and views on Tesla and Elon Musk in general, continues. a similar project from 2019allowing you to track how sentiment has changed over time.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the survey is the divergence of opinion on the Model 3 itself, versus the man whose name is so closely associated with the Tesla brand. Overwhelmingly, respondents strongly agreed that the car is enjoyable to drive and said it has been more reliable than previous cars they’ve owned. Most owners say they have no intention of buying a gas-powered car again, and nearly three-quarters of those surveyed say they are considering a Tesla for their next purchase, with Cybertruck being the most popular answer.
And yet, Bloomberg reports that “the most pronounced change in opinion was the drop in Musk’s approval rating.” Respondents said they agreed that he should stop tweeting and stay out of politics. People were particularly wary of Twitter’s purchase of him (now renamed X), which most said had been a “distraction” from his work at Tesla. When people decided to sell their Tesla and switch to another brand, the most popular reason was “disapproval of Elon Musk.” Democrats, unsurprisingly, had the most negative views of Musk, while those who voted for Trump in 2020 viewed him more positively. Despite the drop in sentiment, respondents still agreed on average that Musk is the right man to lead Tesla.
A couple of other answers I found interesting:
Finally, there is the survey section on Tesla’s driver assistance system, which Bloomberg calls “the first major driver evaluation of Tesla’s Autopilot software.” Most customers think the “Full Self-Driving” feature was worth the price they paid for it, and they think Tesla is on the right track with its approach. But opinions were more mixed on whether it’s reliable enough for the average driver, citing specific issues including problems navigating construction zones and responding to emergency vehicles (a concern that overlaps with a federal investigation).
The survey presents a nuanced view of the attitudes of Tesla owners who are happy with their cars and the company but frustrated by their CEO’s behavior. Bloomberg’s full wording well worth reading.
