While some Dutch and Danish drivers claim to feel "Tesla shame," new data suggests that Swedish buyers have no such concerns — and are actually showing increased interest in the brand.
According to figures from the sales portal Blocket, Tesla models were searched 5.6 million times in the first two weeks of 2023.
Although that number dropped to 4 million searches in early 2024, interest is now rebounding. In the first two weeks of 2025, searches for Tesla rose by 7% compared to the previous year.
Used car dealers are noticing the shift.
Riddermark Bil, a billion-dollar business in Sweden, reports that Tesla is their best-selling electric car brand. Even Blocket itself sees a steady demand for Tesla.
Blocket’s automotive expert Marcin Stepman believes the controversy surrounding Tesla may be influencing buyers, but not necessarily in a negative way.
“After all the attention on Tesla, some buyers may see this as an opportunity to get a good deal on a used model, which explains the increasing traffic,” Stepman told Carup.
While some high-profile individuals have distanced themselves from Tesla, selling their cars as a statement against Elon Musk’s political influence, others are still holding onto theirs.
HK federation chairman Anja C. Jensen announced in November that she wanted to sell her red Tesla Model S to avoid association with the brand. However, months later, she still has the car, admitting it’s not as easy to sell as she expected.
Meanwhile, American singer Sheryl Crow took a more decisive stance. She sold her black Tesla Model 3 in protest of Musk’s political actions and donated all proceeds to National Public Radio (NPR),.
"My parents always said… you are who you hang out with," Crow wrote on Instagram. "There comes a time when you have to decide who you’re willing to ally yourself with."
