1y ago

Tesla owners are typically white men earning six figures

www.businessinsider.com Meet the typical Tesla owner: A white male homeowner with a household income over $130,000

Tesla owners are overwhelmingly men, and the most common occupations are engineer, software engineer, and manager of operations, one study found.

219 comments

“Six figures.”
Can we retire this phrase? A lot of these people are earning multi-hundred-thousand dollar salaries. And many of them live in expensive areas where $100k is not some magic number that means you’re rich.
It’s just such a cringey phrase. Not specific enough to be useful, and loaded with economic misconceptions.
- The use of “six figures” as a measure of affluence goes back to at least the 60’s… if we use 1970 as a baseline, a salary of $100,000 then is $800,000 today, accounting for inflation.
  Inflation isn’t the whole picture , but helps to demonstrate how dated the phrase is.
  
  This is interesting, thank you for this. Makes me feel less bad
- Agreed. Between my wife and I we gross close to 200k. With a house in a Boston Suburb and 2 kids, it’s solidly middle class. Certainly a far cry from rich.
  I think that’s far from Tesla money. I drive a 10 year old VW (Passat) and she drives a 4 year old Honda (Odyssey).
  
  Do you own the house?
- Agreed!

This makes a lot of sense. Tesla is a slightly higher-end car, and it's not surprising that it attracts people from the engineering fields.
People who work in engineering/tech would be slightly more inclined to buy cutting-edge products.
- The funny thing is that it’s objectively not a higher end car. It’s just a cheap Corolla with a big computer in it. Tesla’s build quality is also complete shit, as easily seen in the panel fitment (or anything fitment).
  
  “ The funny thing is that it’s objectively not a higher end car. It’s just a cheap Corolla”
  I don’t know if I can agree with that, lol. Teslas are incredibly fun to drive, are the safest cars ever made, drive themselves on the freeway (how well is a debate, but still), cost very little to fuel etc etc.
  Very different than a Corolla, and I love me a Corolla!
  
  I’ve been in my mate’s model S*, and lemme tell ya, 0-60 in three seconds is hilariously NOT “objectively not a high end car” lawl
  Find me a Corolla that can do that
  Edit: I was wrong, it’s the standard model, not the S! I forgot the midrange one, but it’s below an S. It still has two motors and launch… go fast, though!
  
  I don’t think you know what “objective” means. At least define your criteria more broadly to make a hyperbolic claim like this.
  The interior is not on the level of Mercedes but the whole package counting performance, drive and features is luxury.
  People fall over themselves to talk down Tesla since Elon is a prick but let’s please try to stay rational here vs knee jerk reddit like reactions.

Overall, not surprised.
Couple of points I noticed were missing:
No race-related data was reported regarding the Model 3.
No data at all from the Model Y.
These are their most affordable models, so I’m reading this article in terms of the Model X & Model S, and not every owner. The data did say that the Model 3 was predominantly male-owned, and I expected nothing less from a car marketed as a sports car.
A state that was once identified as “Camry California”, the Model Y exceeding Camry sales in the state is a big enough deal to include that data to qualify an article that describes all Tesla owners.
- It's consistent with the idea that mostly tech workers buy Teslas. It does not really sell to people outside this demographic.
  
  Interestingly, I think only one of the countless Tesla owners I know works in tech.
  
  Around me, I see lots of soccer moms driving them, and I wouldn't say I live in a particularly affluent area. I do, however, live near a nuclear plant (11th largest in the world, in fact) and have relatively cheap electricity.
  Edit: fucking cry more, @Hypx

Yeah that’s not even a little surprising
- Hence why it is a fad. Just a toy for rich people who work in the tech industry.

If I were rich I would like an EV based on the fact that I hate gasoline.
But I dont trust my road safety on a billionaire crybaby who gets triggered by the word "cisgender"
- When our current car dies, I'd like to replace it with an EV - but 0% chance it'll be a Tesla.
  
  Lots of better options out now. And in 5 years, Tesla may be the worst of them, given how bad their quality control is.
  I just wish it wasn't their charging network that manufacturers were moving to, but I have to admit that it is better than the alternatives. And we do need a single standard like gas.
  
  This is exactly it for me too. I’m definitely going electric in my next vehicle, but it definitely isn’t going to be a Tesla.
  
  PHEV because we like road trips but yeah.

This is true for me, I have an S.
I'll also never buy another tesla again but I'll drive this until the wheels fall off. It's 5 years old now.
- Always refreshing to see somebody who owns one of these cars and hasn't immediately forgotten all expectations of build quality from an automotive manufacturer. I've seen intelligent and analytical people just turn their brains off at the suggestion that these cars aren't perfect, when the procedure for getting one repaired reads like it's from Apple.
- How is the battery holding up? All Tesla owners I know sold theirs before the 2 year mark worrying that they might need to replace the battery for the price of a new car, always sounded like a misconception to me.
  
  Even for all that is correct to criticize about Tesla's build quality, the batteries do hold up a while;
  Even Tesla's warranty cites 70% capacity after 8 years / 120k miles, which roughly tracks with real world results.
  Although I'd never buy one, the battery seems to be one of the least issue prone areas; usually people cite interior/exterior build quality, a total lack of serviceability and software issues as the main things when it comes to Teslas.
  
  The thing gets me about the "$XX,000" battery replacement figure is that people are talking about the dealer quote for a battery replacement. If your vehicle is in warranty (and Tesla has an 8 year battery warranty), then the dealer replaces the battery for free. If it's not under warranty anymore, there's no reason to get your battery replaced at the dealer. Third party shops will do it for a fraction of the cost.
  
  I’ve heard the tires are what really cost money because the car is so heavy it wears them out really fast.
  
  Holding up fine. I'm about 7% degradation, 2018 over 80k miles on it. 100D. I've been very happy with it as far as anything goes. Never serviced, just a few things like lights that I needed replaced.
- Are you me? Lol
  
  No thats me, im u

Would you drive a car from the guy who can't even handle a website?
- Well, the website is a bit of a distraction. The car sells well in Europe and China respectively, not just the US. Much like how SpaceX has largely been a success globally as well.
- I wanted a Tesla before the whole children in a cave episode. Then it went all downhill from then.
- Not a musk shill, but teslas have higher safety ratings than like every other car, and nasa certainly trusts him with the rockets. Whats going on with twitter either doesnt relate or he doesnt matter enough to be a concern.
  
  Not a Musk head either but I absolutely thank Tesla for the rise in the technology. I love the idea of electric cars, and although I'll never be able to afford a new one, as I can't spend $600+ a month on a car, it's nice to see us going in a better direction and away from fuel.
  
  https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/06/10/tesla-autopilot-crashes-elon-musk/

I bet most new car owners are in the same demographic. New cars are expensive as shit these days.

I for one am shocked.
The only Tesla owner I know is a Musk-loving, ancap, STEM-bro who probably makes around $160k.
As an engineer, I often find being surrounded by engineers to be exhausting lol
- Most of the Tesla owners I know are Chinese. The early adopters were Caucasian, but now that they're mainstream, they're being bought by pretty much everyone.
- Yes. Teslas are pure fads. And the BEV is just a big greenwashing scam. It just replaces one unsustainable idea with another.
  Engineers are easily swayed by hype and propaganda just like everyone else.

Teslas are now the more expensive finance bro Patagonia vests, but on the road I’m seeing more polestars and other Ev’s.
- Yeah I only got mine because it had the best range at the time and went "zoom" real good. I'd get an Aptera (if it ever comes out) for my next one though.

In DFW its mostly indians and asians that drive teslas, especially in Plano and Frisco. Its completely replaced the fully loaded honda accord and toyota camry as THE car to get.
- I work in car insurance and noticed this whenever I see a Tesla on a policy too, they’re also usually located in the Bay Area, Texas, or a rich suburb of Seattle.

This seems more about demographics than tech. Just sayin

I'm a white man who falls into that category, I'd never own a Tesla, they're too fucking expensive. Maybe I'll get an EV some day, but it won't be a Tesla. For now, I'll stick to my 6 year old car that still runs well and didn't cost me a second mortgage.
- That's okay you can buy me a tesla

Sounds about right
- Yep. It basically proves that Teslas are a toy for the rich. It will eventually be realized that BEVs are a fad.

I thought Tesla's were for poor kids who live in trailer parks
- They're toys for rich people. The whole concept is a just big fad.

As a white man, making six figures with a stem job is love to have a Tesla. My 200 year house and it’s wiring disagree however. 😔
- Trust me, there are many other EVs put there that are cheaper and have much higher build quality. You don't want to sign up to the Church of Elon.

Tesla's are Thermomix for tech bros.
- I mean Model 3 is also now literally the #1 bestselling car in the entire world
  
  Me when I lie on the internet
  
  Also quite popular in China. Really it's the most affordable non-Chinese option, outside the US market. Unless you count the Tata Nexo, in which case, the Chinese options would be better...

I always wanted a Tesla. I'm now in a position I could buy one comfortably, but now I have a spine and won't.
- Same here. The electric car tech is changing so fast too. Eying the VWs but happy with my volt.
- What are you considering now, just out of curiosity?

IMHO Tesla is too unreliable. There are enough EVs available that are more reliable (and cheaper).
- I just want an EV that is:
  -Reasonably priced.
  -User repairable/modifiable.
  -No stupid luxury gimmicks (fake "self driving" or "self parking", 360° cameras for outside view, electronic locks that will most likely fail in a couple years, etc...)
  -NO FUCKING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES like those stupid heated seats!!
  
  Hyundai announced they're not doing those stupid subscriptions, might be worth considering.
  Edit: more like making it free to use as long as you're the legal owlet owner of the car, still better than the other manufacturers
  
  -User repairable/modifiable.
  It'll have to run on a couple of AAA-batteries then.

In years past, I toyed with the idea of getting a Tesla, but they were always too pricy for me. As I'm approaching 10 years on my current vehicle and have a 50+ mile one-way commute for the first time in 15 years (one day a week, but still...), I'm wondering if replacement will be sooner or later. I'd like to go EV or at least hybrid, but I know that it won't be a Tesla in any event.
I did have a coworker several years ago who imported a Honda Fit EV from California. He was not exactly happy in the winter when he had to trade heat for distance. I imagine things are better with newer models.

As a white male renter with a household income of $37,000 I don't own a Tesla. So that checks out.

This seems more about demographics than tech. Just sayin

My wife got a Tesla and has a nice figure. As far as I can tell, she doesn't have 6 figures.

The best deal is to lease the jeep wrangler 4xe plug in, they pass the 7500 onto the buyer and by lease end the battery is weakened so give the car back instead of paying 5k to replace the battery plus by lease end new battery tech will be here

This seems more about demographics than tech. Just sayin

This seems more about demographics than tech. Just sayin

This seems more about demographics than tech. Just sayin

This seems more about demographics than tech. Just sayin

This is why BEVs are fundamentally just a fad. It is a toy for rich white men and little else. It is fundamentally too expensive for normal people. There not even the most important car in the household, and is usually just the second car.
- There's plenty of BEVs that are competitively priced to any other new car: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g32463239/new-ev-models-us/
  They might not be the car you choose to take on a road trip, but most days, I only need to drive less than 20 miles anyway.
  
  You're joking? The first one on that list is literally the Hummer EV. Completely unaffordable for most people. This is just more evidence that BEVs are a fad, not the other way around.
- Do you have anything to support this? EVs are increasing share of the market so when do you estimate that will end? Do you also think EVs are a fad in China?
- In the 90's you could've written an equally true headline replacing "Tesla owners" with "PC owners". It's not an indication that BEV's are a fad, it's an indication that wealth inequality and sexism continues to this day.
  
  There is no Moore's law of batteries. BEVs are always going to be fairly expensive compared to other types of cars. They will not magically improve like PCs have.
  Not to mention BEVs are old technology. They literally pre-date internal combustion cars.
- Do you work in the fossil fuel or hydrogen industry?

The same demographic as MAGA supporters.
- Engineering, software engineering and management generally require intelligence and critical thinking.
  MAGA entirely lack that
  
  Nah, smart people can be idiots. Ted Cruz graduated from Princeton and Harvard Law. Ben Carson used to be a world class neurosurgeon. Rand Paul is technically still a doctor. All three colossal morons as well.
  
  I know software engineers who are Republicans, and even some who voted for Trump.
  I know Trump isn't popular, but there's no need to be so condescending.
  Calling your political opponents so unintelligent that they can't even hold certain occupations is incredibly snobby and rude. It makes you look very immature.
- Glad to see the same bad hot takes on Lemmy as on Reddit.
  MAGA supporters are white ev drivers? Lol.
- As a software engineer and a Tesla owner, I have to say that pretty much all the Republicans/MAGA supporters I know are from outside of work. Most people I work with are definitely left of center.
- MAGA supporters drive EVs?
  
  This is totally anecdotal, but of the two tesla owners i know, both are left leaning and software devs (not white though). I have also have few maga relatves that shit on electric anything, like they gave me crap for having an electric mower.
- Can we avoid turning Lemmy.world into a political car fight and stick to the particulars of the issues instead of name calling. Whether right or wrong saying “that’s the same demographic as trump supporters” doesn’t add to the conversation, it’s just inflammatory
  
  This is what happens when you let redditors in
- My crazy theory is that Musk’s sudden political shift is because the above demographic was getting saturated with Teslas, and he needed to broaden his market. He learned from the blind loyalty Trump gets from his cult of personality, and is looking to duplicate that success.
  
  I have the same theory, but man as much as I love my car, I do hate how every time I tell someone I drive a Tesla I get an eyebrow raise like they’re waiting for me to say something racist or transphobic. I just really like the car and despite test driving every other EV under 60K couldn’t find another one that I liked :(
- Probably, but probably not always. The Biden/Trump voting ratio according to 2020 CNN exit polls for people making over $100k is 42%/54%. Interestingly, when you go above $200k income it's an even 44%/44% split. So definitely not a given. Assuming most Tesla owners are college educated (which I'm sure has its exceptions) then it's worth mentioning that white men that graduated from college voted 48%/51% (Biden/Trump). Lastly the most confounding factor for me is that people buying Teslas are likelier to care about climate change. That's a voting gap of 69%/29%. So I really don't know. If I had to guess the split of Tesla owners is closer to 50/50 on political stance. I think there's just as much a fair argument to be made that it skews left given that the left cares more about climate change and Tesla grew out of Silicon Valley elites. That is, I believe that to be true before Musk bought Twitter. Now that there's more awareness around his shitty politics, I think the upcoming years will see Tesla ownership move further towards right wingers.
  
  Agree with everything you are saying. I think another big factor you are missing is the urban/suburban/rural split. I would wager there are significantly more Teslas per capita in and around cities, which tend to skew more left than their surroundings in both blue and red states.
- Other than MAGA supporters traditionally being against EVs
- All the right-leaning people I know don't like EV's and don't own them. Most, can't afford them. Most of the Tesla owners I've noticed in my country are Chinese. You've got plenty of Tesla ownership in Europe and China where sales dominate. Far from MAGA battlegrounds.
- You're not entirely wrong, they get stereotyped as being rural poorer types but they tend to be closer to the people mentioned above, though perhaps not the exact demographic.

219 comments