When Jennifer Trebb first drove her Tesla Model Y into her driveway two years ago, it felt like a moment from the future. She was contributing to environmental sustainability, and, as she put it, “It was definitely a little bit of a cool moment to have something that was innovative and different.”
But recently, Trebb, along with a growing number of Tesla owners in the United States and abroad, has reversed course. Feeling alienated by the values and politics of the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, these owners are selling their vehicles. Sheryl Crow is among the well-known figures who have made this decision. Musk’s role in the Trump administration and use of his influence have exacerbated the tension.
This buyer’s remorse comes at a challenging time for Tesla. The company’s stocks recently experienced a double-digit drop. A recent report also showed a decline in European sales, and the company faces growing competition from other electric vehicle manufacturers, which is eroding its market share. Moreover, headlines have emerged regarding protests outside Tesla showrooms in the United States, along with instances of harassment targeting vehicle owners.
Trebb, a 54-year-old family therapist and a Democrat, decided to trade in her Tesla for a gas-powered Mercedes. Even though her Tesla had only 10,000 miles, she had to accept $32,000 of the original $55,880 value. The decisive moment for her came during a recent trip to the supermarket.
“Two weeks ago, I was called a Nazi,” she said, “in the parking lot at Kroger.” She added an expletive. “I came home and told my husband, ‘That’s it. I’m done.’”
