Abumper sticker mocking Elon Musk is sparking a polarizing debate about what it means to drive a Tesla. The sticker, which reads, “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy,” has been making the rounds on social media and is stirring up conversations about the connection between Tesla’s brand and its controversial CEO.
A picture of the sticker, placed on a Model Y, was posted on the “me_irl” subreddit, where it generated more than a thousand comments. The post has appeared in several other Reddit threads as well.
Many Redditors have ridiculed the idea of distancing oneself from Tesla because of Musk’s persona, especially since he’s become more divisive in recent years.
As Musk’s controversial views have come to the forefront, particularly since his acquisition of Twitter, the question arises whether the company’s brand is inseparable from its CEO. Over the past two years, Musk has been increasingly vocal about his political views — sparring with President Joe Biden on Twitter, expressing anti-transgender sentiments, and calling Democrats the party of “division & hate.”
The billionaire threatened to sue the Anti-Defamation League after the group documented a rise in hate speech on his social media platform, X, following his purchase of the company in October.
However, the bumper sticker has sparked mixed reactions. One Reddit user commented, “It’s idiotic,” posting in response to the bumper sticker photo. “Elon is the CEO, but it’s not like he single-handedly built the car. People need to stop trying to find their identity in corporations.” Another user joked, “If I made my purchases based on how much I liked the CEO of the company that made it, I would probably have a lot more money and own very little.”
The debate isn’t just about Musk’s controversial behavior, but about whether people should associate a product with the actions of its leader.
Some Tesla owners have admitted that Musk’s behavior has made them reconsider buying or owning a Tesla.
A Bloomberg survey earlier this year of more than 5,000 Tesla Model 3 owners revealed that many of them were uneasy about Musk’s online presence and controversial views. While some owners continue to praise the Tesla cars themselves, the negative public image of Musk has driven others away.
Similarly, several Tesla owners have told Business Insider that they’ve ditched the brand due to Musk’s antics, while others, as CNN reported last year, have backed out of purchasing a Tesla because of Musk’s political views.
“I don’t want Tesla cars to become the new MAGA hat,” one driver said, contemplating canceling a second order. “I don’t want to be seen as a rich jerk, and I don’t want to be seen as a political conservative, libertarian free speech warrior.”
In response to the ongoing debate, a humorous side note is that bumper stickers like the one mocking Musk are becoming increasingly popular. Among the “Please be patient, student driver” magnets, “thin blue line” flags, and “45/47” decals, the “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy” bumper sticker has emerged as one of Amazon’s third best-selling items, priced at $6.99.
While using celebrity spokespeople in marketing carries its risks, having a celebrity CEO like Musk can significantly affect a company’s reputation.
A market research firm, Caliber, suggested earlier this year that Musk’s personal views were contributing to a shrinking pool of potential buyers for Tesla, and since then, his public involvement with politics has only grown.
Musk’s increased political presence — campaigning for Donald Trump and being appointed to lead a newly created government efficiency agency (DOGE) — is further entangling Tesla with political views. It’s clear that the cars we drive, much like the brands we support, are often associated with our political stances, whether intentional or not.
Should Musk’s political activity continue to polarize public opinion, drivers who initially bought their Teslas without considering his views may turn to bumper stickers like the one mocking Musk to clarify where they stand.
As the political landscape becomes more divisive, Tesla drivers may soon find that their cars serve as much a political statement as a mode of transportation — for better or worse.
