Spanish Tesla Owners Consider Selling Over Musk's Politics

Spanish Tesla Owners Consider Selling Over Musk's Politics

What happens when the car you bought to showcase your environmental conscience becomes a symbol of the opposite? This is the dilemma facing some Tesla owners in Spain, who see how Elon Musk’s public trajectory—his gestures, support for Donald Trump, and alignment with far-right movements—has turned their vehicle into an uncomfortable object. An IT professional from Alicante sums it up bluntly: "Elon Musk is now harmful to society; if I could, I would sell the car." It is not an isolated case, nor is it the norm: some stick anti-founder decals on their hoods, while others claim immunity to the controversy. The company, for its part, declines to comment.

From Green Symbol to Ideological Burden

Until recently, owning a Tesla was a statement of intent: cutting-edge electric car, advanced technology, and environmental awareness built into the chassis. That narrative has cracked. Owners now considering getting rid of their cars do not dispute the mechanics, but what the owner represents. The paradox is stark: a vehicle purchased to project ecological virtue has become a daily reminder of a political drift many drivers do not share.

Some argue the problem is not Musk but the buyer, who was dazzled by the brand before looking at the real cost. Others, at the opposite extreme, believe the backlash against Tesla is a campaign orchestrated by media and social networks trinc the founder’s shift toward radical right-wing positions. Between these poles, most owners simply drive their cars and avoid the topic at dinner parties.

The Used Market: Opportunity or Trap?

The first obstacle for regretful owners is financial. A new Tesla can exceed €70,000, and those who financed it face depreciation that turns selling into a loss. The full calculation, including pending installments and current residual value, yields a result that discourages anyone. Thus, the phrase "if I could, I would sell" is more lament than action plan.

The used EV market does not help either. Some argue that a five- or six-year-old Tesla has little life left, tied to an expensive battery replacement and charging infrastructure still insufficient outside major cities. For urban trips, however, the EV performs well. The repeated conclusion: good for city driving, not for travel.

Taxis: The Laboratory of Disillusionment

Disillusionment is most tangible in the taxi sector. Many professionals switched to electric believing Tesla would save costs. According to testimonials, the result has been constant anxiety: range issues, higher-than-expected maintenance, and disputes with the intermediary app FreeNow. The best taxi car, says a veteran, remains a Lexus ES.

The irony is that taxis were the perfect showcase for EVs. If even professionals, who drive hundreds of kilometers daily and count every cent, are unhappy, the efficiency argument wobbles. And private buyers, who cannot amortize the investment, start looking at traditional hybrids with new eyes.

Cultural War on Four Wheels

Beyond finances, the Tesla has become an ideological battleground. Some say the backlash is spontaneous, reflecting rejection of Musk. Others see a coordinated campaign: the founder cut funding to certain outlets, and suddenly media and social networks turned against him. They argue the timing is too perfect to be casual.

Amid this crossfire, the average owner—who just wanted a quiet, low-maintenance car—is bewildered by a spectacle they did not ask for. Some choose protest stickers on the bodywork. Others choose silence. A few, the minority, switch brands when renewal time comes.

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The most revealing aspect is not that some owners regret their purchase, but that regret has become visible enough to warrant stickers, articles, and heated debates. A car bought to avoid thinking has ended up forcing political reflection every time it starts. For a wheeled appliance, that is asking too much.