Tesla went from "a cool tech company, and also the ceo does rocket stuff, which is kinda nice" to "what is wrong with that f*cking nazi jerk" in the last 10 years in my circles, and it is very much deserved.
Btw, note that it was not actually a Roman salute (though it may have been adopted by Italian fascists because they incorrectly believed it had been used by the Romans; they were keen on Roman iconography).
This is largely a function of their brand positioning. There are about 20 models of car under about 6 brands on the VW MEB platform, all, well, very similar (except the weird microbus thing). Tesla has instead chosen to go for two models under one brand.
Both are _valid_ approaches, and you see both from other companies (eg GM leans into the many brands thing fairly heavily, BMW is single brand few models), but it does make claims of "this is the best selling vehicle" rather uninteresting.
Is that because they have fewer model numbers? If you look at fleet sales, does that placement still hold? Something like Toyota might have dozens of different similar products, diluting their rank ordering.
I wonder if it’s still too soon for the CEO of a car company to throw up a Nazi salute on an internationally televised event. Let’s check the sales results. Yep still too soon.
Also pro tip. If you didn’t MEAN to throw up a Nazi salute and you’re sorry for offending people you should immediately (or at all)
1) say that wasn’t intended to be one
2) apologize for offending everyone who isn’t a Nazi
3) Refrain from presenting a collection of Nazi jokes as your sole public defense.
Possibly because unfortunately, about 20% of German voters voted for the AfD in the last federal election, which likes to put some Nazi-sounding stuff on its campaign posters ("Kinder statt Inder," for example).
However, your analysis still kind of stands, as the AfD and even more extreme parties (like "Wahre Alternativ") tend to do better in the worse-off parts of the country like the hollowed-out districts on the eastern border (such as the one my brother-in-law left pretty much the moment his accounting degree hit his hand) where people were not big Tesla buyers, and poorly in affluent, well-educated places like Munich and Freiburg, where the kind of people who had been buying Teslas live (and are now buying just about any other EV).
Even discounting the economics, leaning into something which is liked by 20% of the population and loathed by everyone else is poor brand positioning.
Also, I feel like "I wasn't going to buy this, but the CEO did a Nazi salute and I like Nazi salutes so I'll buy it" is a much weirder and less probable phenomenon than "well, I was going to buy this, but the CEO did a Nazi salute so fuck no". Political affinity isn't really enough to make people buy what they otherwise weren't going to buy, but political anathema _will_ be enough to put people who were potential buyers off.
Tesla's sales last quarter were the result of the US ending subsidies, so record sales and decreases outside of the US aren't mutually exclusive facts.
I am referring to their dramatic reduction in sales and market share loss in all European markets...and struggling in China...while reporting record deliveries. Fairy tales or creative reporting?
Tesla went from "a cool tech company, and also the ceo does rocket stuff, which is kinda nice" to "what is wrong with that f*cking nazi jerk" in the last 10 years in my circles, and it is very much deserved.
When that word is used dishonestly for everyone you don’t agree with it loses all meaning.
In Germany it hits home when someone gives the Roman salute with an angry scowl on your face during a moment of transition of power.
and gives public presentations at gatherings of the far-far-right party https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-26/elon-musk-supports-af...
Twice. While paraphrasing the 14 Words.
And not even denying it afterwards.
> Roman salute
Btw, note that it was not actually a Roman salute (though it may have been adopted by Italian fascists because they incorrectly believed it had been used by the Romans; they were keen on Roman iconography).
Indeed, but if I had called it the Nazi salute I'd have been begging the question---or something like it.
This is a pure lie and pure slander. I’m not even a fan boy but you can’t just outright slander people. It’s shameful.
> “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” (Orwell).
Everyone can watch the video and draw their own conclusion but how anyone can and not see it I don't know.
Model Y was the best selling vehicle in Europe in September
https://www.autonews.com/tesla/ane-europe-top-50-september-2...
This is largely a function of their brand positioning. There are about 20 models of car under about 6 brands on the VW MEB platform, all, well, very similar (except the weird microbus thing). Tesla has instead chosen to go for two models under one brand.
Both are _valid_ approaches, and you see both from other companies (eg GM leans into the many brands thing fairly heavily, BMW is single brand few models), but it does make claims of "this is the best selling vehicle" rather uninteresting.
Is that because they have fewer model numbers? If you look at fleet sales, does that placement still hold? Something like Toyota might have dozens of different similar products, diluting their rank ordering.
Volkswagen sells more EVs than Tesla in Europe:
https://eu-evs.com/marketShare/ALL/Groups/Line/All-time-by-Q...
Volkswagen's sales are split across many brands (VW, Audi, Skoda, Porsche, Cupra, MAN, Scania, etc.) and models.
I wonder if it’s still too soon for the CEO of a car company to throw up a Nazi salute on an internationally televised event. Let’s check the sales results. Yep still too soon.
Also pro tip. If you didn’t MEAN to throw up a Nazi salute and you’re sorry for offending people you should immediately (or at all) 1) say that wasn’t intended to be one 2) apologize for offending everyone who isn’t a Nazi 3) Refrain from presenting a collection of Nazi jokes as your sole public defense.
Having sold all the ones possible to affluent Greens, it's how you sell the remainder to affluent conservatives.
except that ev sales are up just tesla is down
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/teslas...
Turns out Nazis aren't popular in Germany.
EDIT: it's funny that I say this every time, and every time I get downvoted. I have no idea why.
Possibly because unfortunately, about 20% of German voters voted for the AfD in the last federal election, which likes to put some Nazi-sounding stuff on its campaign posters ("Kinder statt Inder," for example).
However, your analysis still kind of stands, as the AfD and even more extreme parties (like "Wahre Alternativ") tend to do better in the worse-off parts of the country like the hollowed-out districts on the eastern border (such as the one my brother-in-law left pretty much the moment his accounting degree hit his hand) where people were not big Tesla buyers, and poorly in affluent, well-educated places like Munich and Freiburg, where the kind of people who had been buying Teslas live (and are now buying just about any other EV).
Even discounting the economics, leaning into something which is liked by 20% of the population and loathed by everyone else is poor brand positioning.
Also, I feel like "I wasn't going to buy this, but the CEO did a Nazi salute and I like Nazi salutes so I'll buy it" is a much weirder and less probable phenomenon than "well, I was going to buy this, but the CEO did a Nazi salute so fuck no". Political affinity isn't really enough to make people buy what they otherwise weren't going to buy, but political anathema _will_ be enough to put people who were potential buyers off.
Oh you mean people are downvoting because they disagree that Nazis are unpopular. Never thought that would be it.
"Tesla sales crash across Europe with drops of up to 90%" - https://www.techspot.com/news/110124-tesla-sales-crash-acros...
Reminder that last quarter Tesla reported record deliveries...basis for an SEC investigation?
Tesla's sales last quarter were the result of the US ending subsidies, so record sales and decreases outside of the US aren't mutually exclusive facts.
> basis for an SEC investigation
That is funny. Of all the things Tesla should be under investigation their sales in Germany won't make top-100 list.
I am referring to their dramatic reduction in sales and market share loss in all European markets...and struggling in China...while reporting record deliveries. Fairy tales or creative reporting?
the sales surged in the US due to tax credit expiration
Tesla can say anything as being "commercial puffery".