The pollster Morning Consult announces, “Elon Musk’s recent takeover of Twitter Inc. has spurred a more favorable view among Republicans of his other companies, including Tesla Inc. But according to an analysis of Morning Consult’s Taking the Temperature data, conservative backing for the infamous chief executive’s brands has not been enough to drive an increase in purchasing consideration of electric vehicles in the short or long term.”
Somehow I find that less than shocking, since Teslas start at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $43,990 for the basic Model 3; a fully-loaded Tesla Model 3 costs $63,490. Other models range from $52,990 to $144,990.
A purchase like that, even at the low end, is just not in the budget for the majority of American households, and some data indicate that the median household income was more than $10,000 higher in districts won by Democrats than those won by Republicans. So it wouldn’t really matter if the average Republican saw Elon Musk as the coolest, smartest, and most righteous man on the planet. If they can’t afford it, they can’t afford it.
The best-selling vehicle in America in 2022 was the Ford F-series. I would be surprised if a single buyer made his decision based upon his opinion of Ford CEO James Farley Jr.