Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk donated millions of dollars to help re-elect President Donald Trump and became a high-profile member of the administration in its first few months. In return, many once-loyal customers appear to have abandoned the brand in droves, according to new data from S&P Global Mobility.

The data, which was shared exclusively with Reuters reporter Chris Kirkham, shows the number of American Tesla owners who would buy their next vehicle from the Austin, Texas-based EV factory fell to an all-time low of 49.9% in March.

Tesla has historically enjoyed one of the industry’s highest brand loyalty rates, peaking at 73% in June 2024, Kirkham notes.

“The timing of Tesla’s plunging brand loyalty suggests the CEO’s involvement in politics turned off customers in the EV pioneer’s eco-conscious customer base, some analysts said. ‘If they have Democratic leanings, then perhaps they consider other brands in addition to Tesla,’ said Seth Goldstein, an analyst at Morningstar.”

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