The strange new way Tesla owners are protesting Elon Musk

Tesla owners yes, Musk supporters no: this is demonstrated by the anti-Musk stickers that are appearing on many of the company's cars

In recent months, there has grown among Tesla drivers an odd phenomenon: employing bumper stickers on cars as a vehicle of expressing an affection-hate relationship with the firm—and more specifically, its contentious CEO, Elon Musk.

These stickers are a sign of growing annoyance at the billionaire, whose words and deeds have caused public opinion to polarize. The movement gained steam after Musk made a move at Donald Trump’s inauguration, which was interpreted by some as a Nazi salute, but by others as an expression of enthusiasm.

This scandal also fueled the divide between Tesla fans. The majority of owners wanted to distance themselves from Musk but still want to be able to drive the company’s electric vehicles. Social media platforms, particularly Reddit and Instagram, have been saturated with pictures of Teslas covered with ironic and sarcastic stickers targeting Musk. One of the most popular reads:
“Bought it before we knew Elon was crazy/awful.”

Anti-Musk stickers one of top-selling items

Some have criticized that having a Tesla is an unintentional political statement. The controversy has even spilled over into Amazon, where anti-Musk bumper stickers are top sellers in their category. This goes to illustrate the way the controversies about the CEO have colored the public perception of the brand, making Tesla a polarizing icon.

Apart from the stickers, there are a number of Tesla owners who told us that they are reluctant to purchase another car from the company in the future. But, based on financial constraints, most of them cannot replace their existing Teslas at this time. A Bloomberg poll affirmed that most Tesla consumers are uncomfortable with Musk’s public image and his growing forays into politics.

Despite the tide of discontent rising, Tesla remains at the forefront of electric car production, and there are still many enthusiasts who rally behind Musk and his vision. But this latest bumper sticker craze suggests that to many owners, their Tesla has become more than just a car—it is the convergence of technological brilliance and highly polarizing political opinions.

The stickers can be found online on sites like eatsy for around 10 euros.