Study Showing Elon Musk Politics Cost Tesla 1 Million Sales Is Wrong - CleanTechnica

A recent study by economists from Yale’s National Bureau of Economic Research attempts to quantify the impact of Elon Musk’s right-wing political activities on Tesla’s vehicle sales. The study estimates that Tesla sales between October 2022 and April 2025 would have been 67–83% higher—equivalent to 1 to 1.26 million more vehicles—if not for Musk’s polarizing political behavior. Musk’s outspoken and radical actions, including controversial public appearances, policy influences like killing USAID funding, and extreme social media statements, have alienated some potential buyers. Interestingly, the study also found that Musk’s antics indirectly boosted electric and hybrid vehicle sales from competing automakers by 17% to 22%, advancing Tesla’s broader mission to push legacy automakers toward EVs. However, the study acknowledges its limitations, notably not accounting for the recent elimination of the US EV tax credit, which Republicans including Donald Trump opposed, potentially causing further sales declines for Tesla. Additionally, other factors such