テスラ車オーナー、マスク氏の米政治進出に不満

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】米バージニア州の元弁護士、トム・ブラックバーン氏（７３）は、テスラの電気自動車（ＥＶ）を持つことを心から誇りに思い、１０年以上前に真っ赤な目立つ車両を購入した。しかし今、トランプ政権下で政治に参入した同社のイーロン・マスク最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）を見て、この会社からは二度と車を購入しないと誓った。（写真は、テスラのショールームの外で、イーロン・マスク氏に対する抗議活動に参加する人々。ワシントン州シアトルにて）
　マスク氏は、ドナルド・トランプ大統領による政府の支出削減を後押しすることで米国社会を分断し、違法かつ非道徳的だと批判されている。
　今、その論争は、かつて環境意識の高い消費者に愛された先駆的なＥＶブランド、テスラに飛び火しつつある。
　「今となっては、これを運転するのが少し恥ずかしい」とブラックバーン氏はＡＦＰに語る。「テスラというブランドに失望している」
　昨年からブラックバーン氏の車のバンパーには、「彼（マスク氏）が狂っていると知る前にこれを買った」と書かれたステッカーが貼られている。「今はもっと強いメッセージのステッカーが必要だと思う」と冗談めかして語った。
　マスク氏は２００８年にテスラのＣＥＯに就任し、同社を時価総額世界一の自動車メーカーへと成長させた。
　しかし、アナリストたちは、欧州の極右政党を支持したり、ＳＮＳで陰謀論を拡散したりといったマスク氏の政治的な行動が、これまでリベラル層が中心だったテスラの市場を孤立させる可能性があると指摘する。
　デザイン・コンサルティング会社「エルムウッド・ブランド・コンサルタンシー」のグローバルＣＥＯ、ダニエル・ビンズ氏は、「彼（マスク氏）はブランドとビジネスに長期的に悪影響を及ぼす」と予想する。
　テスラはマーケティングにおいて、マスク氏との関係を「切り離す」必要があると同氏は指摘する。「さまざまな面で、ブランドとターゲット層が一致していない。そして、市場には優れた競合他社がひしめいている」
　■「マスク氏支持の象徴」
　ボストン都市圏の整形外科医、クメイト・ジャロジェ氏（４０）は、所有するテスラ製ピックアップトラック「サイバートラック」の売却を考えている。ＡＦＰには、過去に「ナチスは消えろ」と書かれたメモを車体に貼られたことがその理由だと語った。
　同氏は昨年、経営する美容整形外科を宣伝するために金色のサイバートラックを購入したが、以来、走行中に罵声を浴びたり、他の車両に割り込まれたりするようになったという。
　「（テスラ車を）運転しなくなった」とジャロジェ氏。「テスラは今や、マスク氏支持の象徴のようになってしまった。実際はそうではないにもかかわらずだ」と続けた。
　米歌手シェリル・クロウさんは１月、マスク氏に抗議するため自身のテスラ車を売却し、その売上をトランプ政権による補助金削減に直面している米公共ラジオＮＰＲに寄付すると発表した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/03/24-19:17）

Tom Blackburn was so proud of his Tesla, he even bought one in bright red to stand out. But with company CEO Elon Musk's foray into US politics, he's sworn never to buy from the electric carmaker again.
Musk has already divided Americans by helping President Donald Trump slash government spending in moves denounced as illegal and immoral by critics.
Now the controversy may be ricocheting against Tesla ? his pioneering brand once adored by environmentally conscious buyers.
I'm just a little embarrassed to be driving it at this point, retired attorney Blackburn told AFP of the Tesla he bought more than a decade ago. I have pretty much soured on Tesla as a brand.
A bumper sticker reading I bought this before I knew he was crazy has adorned his car since last year.
The 76-year-old from Virginia jokes: Now I think I need something stronger.
Musk became chief executive of Tesla in 2008, overseeing the company's rise to the world's most valuable automaker in terms of market capitalization.
But analysts say Musk's political endeavors -- including backing far-right parties in Europe and sharing conspiracy theories online -- could isolate Tesla's traditionally liberal market base.
I think he will have a long-term damaging effect on the brand and the business, said Daniel Binns, global CEO of Elmwood Brand Consultancy.
He said that Tesla needs to disassociate from Musk in its marketing, warning of a perfect storm looming as an aging lineup of cars puts it at risk of losing customers to rival companies.
The brand on so many levels is not aligned with its audience and the market is filled with fantastic competitors, Binns told AFP.
Tesla's share price slumped by nine percent this week as it reported disappointing sales in Europe, which traders at least partly attributed to issues with how buyers view Musk.
However, investors are yet to see strong evidence that the billionaire's politics are hurting Tesla's business.
Increased political activity does create a risk that Tesla may alienate some consumers from buying a Tesla, but it's too early to say there is an impact to the company, said Seth Goldstein, equity strategist at Morningstar.
- 'Dump your stock' -
Controversies generated by Musk, including what resembled a Nazi salute -- he said it was not one -- at a Trump rally, have nonetheless already prompted a backlash.
Kumait Jaroje, a physician from the Boston area, told AFP he is trying to sell his Tesla Cybertruck to avoid harassment after a note reading Nazi F*** Off was stuck on it.
The 40-year-old, who supported Trump in November's election, bought the futuristic-looking vehicle in gold last year to advertise his cosmetic surgery, but said he has since been sworn at and cut off by other motorists.
I'm avoiding driving it, said Jaroje, adding that Tesla has become a label for people who like Musk -- which is not true.
Around 54 percent of Americans hold unfavorable views of Musk, according to a Pew Research Center poll, though the results are split on party lines with Democrats far more critical than Republicans.
Some are showing their opposition to Musk by protesting at Tesla showrooms and encouraging owners to Dump your stock to devalue the vehicles.
American singer Sheryl Crow sold her Tesla in protest of Musk this month and said the proceeds would go to NPR, a US radio network that faces cuts in its government funding.
Yet Luis Garay, an independent who voted Democrat in the election, told AFP he can separate Musk's political views from Tesla.
We love Tesla cars, we don't like Elon Musk's political views, said the 68-year-old from Maryland.
For self-described liberal Margaret Moerchen, from US capital Washington, it is crucial she makes clear that our driving a Tesla does not endorse Elon Musk.
Her Tesla, which she bought in 2015 to reduce her carbon emissions, is now covered in stickers reading Up with EVs, down with Musk and the LGBTQ pride flag.
The 45-year-old astronomer said she won't be buying Tesla again and instead cited her interest in competitor Rivian.
Tesla's not the only game in town anymore, she said.