Zoomers Think Teslas Aren't "Cool" Anymore, Survey Finds

[Quixote1818]

Musk is weird, his cybertruck is weird, his thinking the letter X is cool is weird, his demeanor is weird. Maybe that's why Tesla isn't "cool" anymore. People figured out Musk is just a weirdo.


Aug 10, 6:30 AM EDT
by Victor Tangermann

"I think that [Musk's] latest antics have really cost the company. It's caused problems that never needed to exist."

Cooked
A new survey of interns at investment bank Morgan Stanley has found that the "Tesla 'cool factor' is cooling" among Gen Zers in the US.

According to the report, the Elon Musk-led company was the most desirable brand for only 11 percent of Morgan Stanley interns, compared to 14 percent last year, and 19 percent in 2022. German automakers Mercedes and BMW took the desirability crown in the latest survey.

While interns at an investment bank aren't exactly going to represent every person born between the years 1997 and 2012, it's indicative of a decline in interest among affluent or upwardly mobile young people — Tesla's core demographic, historically speaking.

At the center of the crisis is Musk himself, who's contributed greatly to the decline of the brand's reputation by veering to the far right and endorsing former president Donald Trump, a decision that's actively hurting sales in other parts of the world.

Rizz Less
Tesla is already struggling with falling sales, posting the second consecutive quarter decline during its earnings call last month.

More: https://futurism.com/the-byte/zoomers-teslas-arent-cool

[Beartracks]

1. "survey of interns at investment bank Morgan Stanley"

Is that statistically reliable?

=======

[CoopersDad]

2. Around here, they're like what VW beetles or vans were in 1970.

You can pick up a Tesla new for under $25K with incentives, even less.

I bought my second Model 3 last month because they're simply the best EV right now at a reasonable price, having always been an EV designer exclusively, and developed long before Elon Musk came into the picture.

Reliable and easy to use, excellent aesthetic and functionality designs, I couldn't be happier.

But the specialness of the brand is gone, with Rivian and Lucid and new EVs from traditional brands being more "shiny".

I don't find that Gen Z'ers care about driving at all.

[Rstrstx]

20. The M3 is a good EV

It’s the first fully electric car to be mass-produced, so you can find plenty of used ones and even used parts if you need to. It’s their one car they got right right out of the gate. I love mine but am afraid Musk is driving the company into the ground between his political stands and stupid moves like cutting back the Supercharger network. I think Musk is truly losing it and worry about the company’s future.

That said, I agree that Gen Z’ers don’t care that much about cars any more, this isn’t the 1970s when teenagers ogled over their muscle cars. Status symbol has moved away from the car and more towards how popular your social media accounts are. The idea of how someone projects their image of who they are to the rest of the world has changed dramatically. Nobody cares what the back seat of an Uber looks like.

[CoopersDad]

22. Do you mean cutting back as in limiting to 80% charging or paying extra?

The Supercharger network is pretty strong where I live and travel--Central Coast, Bay Area, Central Valley of California.

I realize that charging to 100% now costs more, if there's more to the cutting back that I am unaware of please tell me more!

[Rstrstx]

30. If you've ever charged to 100% you should know why

Starting after about 50% charge the charging rate starts dropping off pretty fast, and the last 20% and especially that last 5% takes a lot longer as the batteries fill up to capacity. In high-demand sites they often limit customers to 80% unless they can’t reach the next supercharger without that extra percent.

Most other automakers won’t even let you charge to true 100% (unless it’s LFP), their software blocks owners from accessing that last little bit to minimize degradation. At least Tesla will let you have access to that part that is normally blocked off if it’s absolutely necessary, they just tell you not to do it unless you really need it.

Having said that Tesla used to have the best batteries out there, that is no longer the case, though LFP is still good if affordability is a higher priority than performance.

[CoopersDad]

32. Yes, I've noticed the slower charge rate, down to a trickle.

My new Highland has the nickel manganese cobalt battery, I don't exceed 80% charge unless I need to.
With only 700 miles, I've yet to need to charge during a trip and have a L2 charger at home.

You're right, though, that the Supercharger network was brilliant and makes it easier to choose a Tesla.
Using the Plugshare network to charge my Volt was inconvenient, too many different systems and accounts needed to be as universal as would be ideal for a J-1772 connection, but quite a few places were/are free to use.

[Celerity]

24. 'developed long before Elon Musk came into the picture'

History of Tesla, Inc.

Founding (2003–2004)

The company was incorporated as Tesla Motors, Inc. on July 1, 2003, by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. They served as chief executive officer and chief financial officer, respectively. Eberhard said that he wanted to build "a car manufacturer that is also a technology company", with its core technologies as "the battery, the computer software, and the proprietary motor".

Ian Wright was Tesla's third employee, joining a few months later. In February 2004, the company raised US$7.5 million (equivalent to $12 million in 2023) in series A funding, including $6.5 million (equivalent to $10 million in 2023) from Elon Musk, who had received $100 million from the sale of his interest in PayPal two years earlier. Musk became the chairman of the board of directors and the largest shareholder of Tesla.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. My oldest child has been in a couple of Teslas that his former law partners drove

The interiors of Teslas are not nice and the cars are not well made.

[yardwork]

6. I've ridden in them.

They remind me of Honda Civics. No effort to make the interior appealing. And the big screen is.... weird

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. My son was not impressed with the interior

[Tikki]

4. The young guys I see around this part of So Cal...

are talking about getting a slightly used Prius.
Seems like most shopping plazas have a section with young guys with 3 or 4 Prius parked and maybe a couple
Kia Fortes.

I would have never predicted a Prius as the cool car for the younger generations.

BTW..We owned a Prius for 13 years. An amazing car.
The Tikkis

[Stallion]

5. The BMW I4 etc Appears to Be the Rising EV

[BannonsLiver]

7. Teslas have not and will never be cool.

[Nimble_Idea]

9. No one wants to be with the fascists, rapists, and Trump maga pedos. don't be caught in a Trump mobile (aka Tesla)

[tinrobot]

10. Rivians are the new desirable EV

And Zoomers are going to love their upcoming R3X. It's damn nifty.

[flamingdem]

11. Looked it up

Priced around 45k. But I bet they'll be hard to find. Very nice.

[tinrobot]

14. That's for the R3X, basic R3 starts at $37K

Same car, but without the rugged parts.

[Hugin]

16. I saw a couple of Z's zooming around in a literal golf cart recently.

Having the time of their lives. I saluted smartly and chuckled as they rolled away.

[Liberal In Texas]

12. One of my sons, who is literally a rocket scientist, was thinking about a Tesla when he went to get a new car

and instead he bought a MachE. It is a very cool car and I felt like I was in one of his rocket ship cockpits when I rode in it.

There are lots of automakers producing electric cars now. People don't have to buy Teslas which are starting to look dowdy.

[Hugin]

13. Crikey! Tesla is going Hummer!!!i11!!

Zounds! Who could’a known!

[Baitball Blogger]

15. Is there a term for when a hot trend goes bad?

[Hugin]

17. Edsel? n/t

[tavernier]

23. I was just gonna say.

Wondered if Tesla is the new Edsel.

It’s never been eye appealing but it’s not hideous. A bit toady and school marm-ish.

[senseandsensibility]

18. I saw that cyber truck thing on the street in my little town

I know very little about cars and am not really that interested in their looks but it was really giving off Hummer vibes. Before I knew what it was I was telling my hubby that it was ugly and weird looking.

[tavernier]

25. Now that thing is hideous.

Seriously wouldn’t take it if I won one in a drawing. I would sell it to the highest bidder and buy a vintage Jaguar XK-E.

[brush]

31. Now you're talking. A Jag E-type will always be cool.

The Jags even further back too...the XK-150, the XK-140 and the XK-120.

[Mariana]

19. We saw a cybertruck in the wild for the first time yesterday.

Gawd it's ugly. The pictures don't do it justice at all.

[WarGamer]

21. so privileged children of the wealthy prefer Mercedes... stunning and news worthy.

[BannonsLiver]

28. I'm neither of those things and I'd prefer a Mercedes.

If someone is going to drive a douche mobile might as well have a little quality and class to go along with it.

[WarGamer]

33. are you a Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley intern? That's who they polled.

[Clouds Passing]

26. Musk's toxic musk is stinking up his brands

[Midnight Writer]

27. Musk should take notes about what happened to Lindell's business.

Supporting racism, misogyny, fascism, is bad for business.

[Blue Owl]

29. Musk can go cyberfuck himself

And hopefully join Diarrhea Donny in the arena of bankruptcy