A new study from the UK suggests that Tesla owners have become the most disliked drivers on the road, surpassing the long-held reputations of BMW and Audi drivers.
The survey, conducted by car rental company Big Motoring World, polled 2,000 drivers across the country to find out how they perceive owners of different car brands.
The result? Tesla drivers were ranked dead last in likability.
According to the findings, three out of five respondents said they would rank Tesla owners as either the least or second least popular on the road.
Musk Factor: Politics May Be Fueling the Backlash
While flashy cars and tech-savvy drivers may usually spark admiration, in this case, it seems Tesla’s image is being dragged down by its CEO, Elon Musk.
Survey respondents described Tesla owners as “extravagant”, with some saying they would never buy one due to the stigma.
“I think the cars are nice, but I could never dream of buying one of them because I wouldn't be able to bear the shame of it,” one respondent said.
The timing of the study coincides with rising criticism of Musk’s political activism. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has recently drawn backlash for his vocal support of controversial political figures and causes, including the far-right German AfD party and Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.
Musk has also used his social media platform to attack British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and reportedly spent over $250 million supporting pro-Trump political groups.
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Electric Car Backlash Grows
Another UK survey cited by This is Money showed that seven out of ten British adults now say they wouldn’t consider buying an electric vehicle, largely due to Elon Musk’s public persona.
Despite this, Tesla sales are rising in parts of Europe.
February sales were up 20% in the UK and Ireland, and the brand remains extremely popular in Norway, where electric vehicles dominate the market.
But image matters, and in the UK at least, the Tesla badge is starting to carry baggage.
Who Else Is Unpopular? The Top 9 Most Hated Car Owners
Alongside Tesla, several other brands came under fire in the same survey. Here's how drivers ranked the most disliked car owners:
Tesla
Volkswagen
Mini
Land Rover
Mercedes-Benz
Jaguar
BMW
Fiat
Ford
While Audi drivers often rank poorly in similar surveys, this time they dodged the top nine—though many respondents still referred to them as “arrogant.”
Brand Stereotypes Run Deep
According to Ian Hajyzamanali, head of marketing at Big Motoring World, many of these opinions reflect long-standing British stereotypes about who drives what.
“The British have long had a habit of associating certain car brands with specific stereotypes,” he said. “The results from the study have both proven and disproved many of these stereotypes, showing that people can also change their attitudes.”
Among the more common characterizations:
BMW owners were labeled “arrogant.”
Fiat and Ford drivers were seen as “reasonable.”
Land Rover owners came off as “mature.”
But when it comes to Tesla, the perception is still evolving.
