About half of Americans have a negative view on Tesla and Elon Musk, CNBC survey finds

The broad public and buyers have one thing in frequent lately: They do not have a variety of love for both Tesla or CEO Elon Musk.

Tesla’s inventory has undergone a withering sell-off, and the CNBC All-America Financial survey finds greater than 47% of the general public have a unfavourable view of the corporate. One other 27% are constructive on the electrical car maker, whereas 24% are impartial. That compares with a 3rd of the general public who’ve a constructive view of Normal Motors with 51% impartial and 10% unfavourable.

Tesla has been underneath stress with concern that its founder’s controversial political actions in reducing authorities employment and backing President Donald Trump and Republicans might be alienating potential consumers. Protests have sprung up throughout the nation at Tesla workplaces.

The survey discovered Musk to be a extremely polarizing determine. Half of the general public has a unfavourable view of Musk, in contrast with 36% who see him positively and 16% who’re impartial. Amongst Democrats, Musk’s internet approval (constructive minus unfavourable) is -82 and -49 for independents. GOP respondents are +56.

The most important drawback for Tesla could also be that many teams who’re potential clients are way more constructive about electrical autos than they’re concerning the firm.

“The place Tesla is strongest is among the many folks least seemingly to purchase an EV,” mentioned Micah Roberts, associate at Public Opinion Methods, the Republican pollster for the survey.

Total, 35% of Individuals are unfavourable on EVs and 33% are constructive. Males, nevertheless, are +11 in internet approval of EVs however evenly divided on Tesla. Younger folks aged 18-34 are +19 on EVs however -23 on Tesla. The hole is most stark amongst Democrats, who’re +20 on EV’s however -74 on Tesla.

Additional complicating the difficulty: Republicans are strongly constructive on Tesla, however internet unfavourable on EVs.

The survey of 1,000 folks nationwide was carried out April 9 by means of April 13 and has a margin of error of +/-3.1%.

Tesla didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.