If you’re looking to be the most popular driver on the road, you might want to rethink getting behind the wheel of a Tesla.
A new survey has revealed that Tesla drivers are officially the least likeable on UK roads, with three in five respondents ranking them as either their second or least favourite drivers. And with Elon Musk’s growing list of controversial takes, it seems the Tesla stigma is only getting stronger.
Top 10: Car brand owners deemed the least likeable
1. Tesla
2. Volkswagen
3. Mini
4. Land Rover
5. Mercedes-Benz
6. Jaguar
7. BMW
8. Fiat
9. Ford
10. Audi
Musk’s political stances have been making headlines worldwide, and it appears they’re now impacting Tesla sales, too. A recent survey found that 70% of British adults have been put off buying a Tesla due to his public behaviour. The backlash has even made existing owners uncomfortable, with 73% of Tesla drivers admitting they feel embarrassed to be seen in one.
Despite Musk once being a marketing powerhouse for Tesla, studies suggest he’s now doing more harm than good. Some potential EV buyers are even ditching Tesla in favour of Chinese alternatives like BYD, which has seen an explosion in interest.
While Tesla’s sales in the UK saw a short-term boost in February, the long-term picture isn’t looking great. New data from Leasing Options shows that while overall EV leasing requests have skyrocketed by 509% year-on-year, Tesla’s have dropped by 11%.
The competition is catching up fast, too. Inquiries for BYD models have surged by 793%, while Ford and Volkswagen have also seen triple-digit growth. Tesla now ranks 26th out of 34 manufacturers for EV leasing growth, a dramatic fall from its once-dominant position.
And it’s getting worse. Comparing February 2025 to February 2024, Tesla leasing inquiries have plummeted by 87%, signalling a major shift in consumer sentiment.
As part of the survey, participants were asked to describe what they think the typical Tesla driver looks like—and the results were turned into AI-generated images.
According to the study, the stereotypical Tesla owner is a balding, well-dressed white man. Other brands weren’t spared either—VW drivers were imagined as middle-aged women, while Land Rover owners were seen as older men, often also bald.
Ian Hajyzamanali, Head of Marketing at Big Motoring World, "British people have long had a knack for associating certain car brands with specific driver stereotypes."
"However, the results from the study and resulting AI images have both proven and disproven many of these stereotypes, showing a change in certain attitudes and stereotypes of particular brands, whereas some remain untouched.
"It's a bit of harmless fun, but often, it’s rooted in the cars’ image and history, meaning that certain stereotypes can often stick with brands for generations."
With Musk’s influence becoming more of a liability, new brands offering competitive EVs, and public perception shifting, Tesla’s grip on the market is clearly slipping.
The question is—will they be able to bounce back, or has Musk’s personal brand become too much for Tesla to overcome?
