A recent survey conducted by CNBC reveals a significant divide in American attitudes toward Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk. According to the survey, some key demographics are particularly bullish on Tesla. Despite these moves, the overall public sentiment is still very much negative, particularly at the handling of Musk himself.
Out of all the respondents, 27% said they had a favorable opinion of Tesla, with an additional 24% saying they were neutral. No wonder nearly half of Americans have a negative opinion of Musk. His net approval rating has tanked to -82 among Democrats and -49 among independents. This alarming divide is the latest symptom of a widely recognized and increasing gap in partisan perceptions. Tesla has unpopularity with Democrats that is nearly unparalleled, with a net approval of -74. By comparison, Republicans have an even rosier impression of the auto giant.
The survey gives some great insights into attitudes about electric vehicles (EVs) in general. Although Republicans as a whole show a net disapproval toward EVs, Democrats show a net approval of +20. Men return a modestly positive approval rating of +11. Young people between the ages of 18-34 are even more positive, giving a net approval of +19. On the other hand, according to our survey, 35% of Americans have a negative perception of EVs in general, while 33% have a positive perception.
Indeed, those Americans least likely to purchase an electric vehicle define Tesla the most positively. This illustrates a fascinating gap between awareness, engagement, and actual willingness to buy. “Where Tesla is strongest is among the people least likely to buy an EV,” said Micah Roberts, reflecting the paradox in consumer sentiment.
Overall, the survey results indicate that perceptions of General Motors (GM) are decidedly mixed. That’s because one-third of the public is with the company. At the time, only 10% of Americans held unfavorable opinions of GM. All of that adds up to GM currently having a much better reputation than Tesla and Musk.
The automotive world is changing quickly, especially with the transition to electric vehicles. This transformation, and the public debate around it, will ultimately determine how entities such as Tesla or General Motors pursue their future business plans. The political divide in perceptions of both Musk and EVs underscores the complexities that stakeholders must navigate in an increasingly polarized environment.
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