“I BOUGHT THIS BEFORE ELON WENT CRAZY” is now emblazoned on her Tesla. Jess purchased the sticker from a Hawaii-based online store, Mad Puffer Stickers, which sells a range of stickers aimed at Tesla owners with similar views, including an “Anti-Elon Tesla Club” option. Matthew Hiller, the owner of Mad Puffer Stickers, said demand for his stickers had been strong since the US election but has been nothing short of incredible since the salutes.
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“I am seeing sustained sales of 500+ a day, mostly from America, with one-fifth of those being international orders,” Hiller told Guardian Australia. “Yesterday, I reached 700 orders.” He mentioned that while orders from Australia remained a small portion of overall sales, there had been an uptick in recent weeks. Another Tesla owner based in Sydney, who preferred not to be identified, recently switched from his Tesla to a different electric vehicle out of frustration with Musk. He revealed that he was the third Tesla owner to return his car to the same second-hand dealership on that day for similar reasons. Debates among Tesla owners groups in Australia often involve discussions about Musk. A recent post regarding a Tesla owner being harassed on the roads about the company received hundreds of comments. Another user complained that, while passing another car, the driver made an “L” shape on their forehead—an insulting gesture indicating them as a loser.”Frustrated Tesla drivers are selling their cars or displaying anti-Musk bumper stickers as sales of the EV brand plummeted by 72% in February compared to last year. Australian Tesla owners have become increasingly troubled by the right-wing politics of the company’s co-founder, Elon Musk, leading them to offload their electric vehicles or use bumper stickers to distance themselves from the billionaire aligned with Trump. Fresh vehicle sales data for February, which included the weeks following Musk’s alleged fascist salute at a Trump inauguration rally, revealed a significant drop in Tesla purchases. Sales were down approximately 72% compared to the same month in 2024. Furthermore, sales of Tesla’s Model 3, the company’s entry-level model that had been the second-best selling EV in Australia in 2024, saw an alarming decline of 81%.
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Tesla’s declining popularity in Australia reflects several concurrent trends in the market, including a shift away from pure battery electric vehicles in favor of hybrid models, the rise of more affordable Chinese competitors, and a general decrease in consumer interest in car purchases which led to Australians buying 10,000 fewer vehicles in February compared to the same month in 2024. Despite these overarching market changes, Tesla experienced a more significant decrease in sales compared to its competitors within the same category, coinciding with the early stages of Donald Trump’s second term as President. Notably, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, currently heads the newly-established Department of Government Efficiency, known as Doge. The United States has faced criticism for recent reductions in its global aid initiatives and for revisiting diversity standards within the country. On a global scale, there has been a noticeable increase in frustrated Tesla owners seeking to sell their vehicles, many of whom were initially drawn to the brand for its progressive and environmentally conscious image. While Tesla sales have grown in the UK, they have nearly halved in Europe. In Australia, a Facebook group comprised of local Tesla owners showcases a variety of viewpoints, with some individuals continuing to support the brand and Elon Musk. However, there are those like Jess, a Tesla owner in Sydney, who have begun to feel embarrassed by the association with Musk due to his heightened public statements in recent months.
“She and her husband received their Model Y a year ago through a work-novated lease program. The couple wanted to pay less for petrol and benefit more from the solar panels on their home. “I’m embarrassed to drive around in it now,” Jess, who asked to use her first name only, said. She said Musk’s January speech when he appeared to make a fascist salute was the tipping point. “The Nazi salute was when I really wanted to get rid of it,” she said. “I don’t want to be affiliated with him – since he went mad.” Unable to easily end the lease, she turned to a growing trend among Tesla owners – bumper stickers mocking Musk.”
“I BOUGHT THIS BEFORE ELON WENT CRAZY” is now emblazoned on her Tesla. Jess purchased the sticker from a Hawaii-based online store, Mad Puffer Stickers, which sells a range of stickers aimed at Tesla owners with similar views, including an “Anti-Elon Tesla Club” option. Matthew Hiller, the owner of Mad Puffer Stickers, said demand for his stickers had been strong since the US election but “has been nothing short of incredible” since the statements made by Elon Musk.
“I am observing consistent sales of over 500 units per day primarily from the United States, with one-fifth of those being international orders. Yesterday, I recorded 700 orders,” Hiller informed Guardian Australia. He mentioned that while sales from Australia constituted a small percentage of the total sales, there has been a noticeable increase in recent weeks. Another Tesla owner based in Sydney, who preferred to remain anonymous, recently switched his Tesla for a different electric vehicle due to dissatisfaction with Musk. He claimed to be the third Tesla owner returning their car to the same second-hand dealership that day for similar reasons. Discussions among Tesla owner groups in Australia often involve contentious conversations about Musk. A recent post about a Tesla owner encountering harassment from another driver on the road garnered hundreds of comments. Furthermore, one user reported a situation where, as they overtook another vehicle, the driver gestured an ‘L’ shape on their forehead—a derisive gesture implying the other driver to be a ‘loser’.”
