Elon Musk's political involvement, particularly his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been linked to a significant decline in Tesla's brand reputation and sales, according to marketing professor Scott Galloway. Galloway described Musk's political alliances as "cosying up to the wrong people," leading to "one of the greatest brand destructions" ever.
Galloway highlighted that Musk's alignment with political figures and increased political spending have alienated Tesla's core customer base. He noted that approximately 75% of Republicans are unlikely to consider purchasing an electric vehicle, suggesting that Musk's political affiliations may have deterred potential buyers.
Tesla's reputation has suffered accordingly. The Axios Harris Poll indicates that Tesla's brand ranking plummeted from 8th in 2021 to 95th in 2025. The company scored poorly across various categories, including Character, Trust, Culture, Ethics, and Citizenship.
Sales figures reflect this downturn. In California, Tesla's largest U.S. market, sales dropped by 12%, and market share decreased by 8%. Internationally, the declines are more pronounced: France (59%), Sweden (81%), the Netherlands (74%), Denmark (66%), Switzerland (50%), and Portugal (33%).
Galloway also criticized DOGE, asserting that it has not achieved its intended cost-saving goals. Instead of reducing government spending, DOGE's initiatives have reportedly led to increased expenditures.
In response to the backlash and declining performance, Musk has announced plans to reduce his political engagements and refocus on his primary business ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and xAI.
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