Tesla owners rebrand cars to distance themselves | Tech News

A growing number of Tesla owners have customised their vehicles in a bid to distance themselves from the divisive politics of controversial CEO Elon Musk.

As Mr Musk continues to work alongside US President Donald Trump as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, cases of Teslas being vandalised have also increased.

As a result, a number of Tesla drivers have taken to Reddit to share their “rebadged” vehicles, with many stating that they are doing it to avoid being targeted.

One user wrote: “I’m considering de-badging my [Tesla Model 3] and I have some questions. Mainly [I want to] reduce my car as a target.

“If it removes those who cannot tell the difference, then it’s a win percentage-wise.”

Whilst the trend of changing the badges on Tesla cars is not new, with some owners making the change more than five years ago, cases of the famous EVs being disguised with new names has recently increased.

Examples spotted by social media users have included a Model S with several Mazda CX-5 badges, and a Model 3 badged as a Honda Civic.

Despite their particularly distinctive appearance, one Cybertruck owner has also rebadged their electric vehicle, fitting a large Toyota sticker to the rear panel, mimicking pickup trucks from the brand, such as the Hilux.

Since becoming Musk became a key part of President Trump’s administration, a number of Teslas have been vandalised across America. Eleven Tesla owners in League City, Dallas had their tyres stolen by one protester, whilst one road user in Colorado is facing a federal charge for vandalising a dealership four times.

Upon hearing that a growing number of Teslas are being targeted by vandals, Elon Musk posted to X, stating that it is not a form of free speech.

He added: “Damaging the property of others, aka vandalism, is not free speech!”

Whilst Tesla has caused particular division among motorists worldwide, the brand has recently seen an increase in demand in the UK, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) recording 3,852 sales during the 28-day period – an increase of 20.68 percent in 12 months.

However, other markets in Europe are continuing to experience a slump in sales. Norway, a particularly large buyer of EVs, saw sales fall 44.4 percent compared to February 2024, whereas new locally-produced models like the Renault 5 and Citroen e-C3 have seen demand fall 26 percent in France.

In a bid to boost sales, Tesla are due to launch a revised version of their Model Y later in 2025, featuring sharper styling, an improved range of 311-miles on the entry-level model, and a lower starting price of £44,990.