Tesla ranks as least trusted EV brand in US: Survey reveals

Elon Musk-owned Tesla is facing a growing trust deficit among American consumers, as revealed in a survey.

According to the latest Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report, the survey has revealed a sharp decline in the company’s reputation, positioning Tesla as the least trusted electric vehicle (EV) brand in the United States (US).

Only 26% of survey respondents said they held a very positive opinion of Tesla, while 39% reported a very negative view.

This results in a net favourability score of -13, a notable drop from -7 reported just two months earlier.

The decline suggests a swift erosion in public perception, driven by ongoing controversies and high-profile failures related to Musk’s car company.

The situation worsens when considering the survey’s “intensity score,” which measures the strength of consumer opinions.

Tesla scored -16 on this metric, indicating that strong negative feelings far outweigh strong positive ones.

While 40% of respondents indicated they somewhat or highly trust Tesla, 48% reported the opposite, leaving the company with a net trust score of -8.

This places Tesla at the bottom of the trust rankings among major EV brands. 

The only other automaker to receive a negative trust score was Vietnam-based VinFast, which has struggled to establish a foothold in the US market.

The report also indicated that Tesla holds the lowest perceived safety rating among all major EV makers, with only 55% of respondents viewing its vehicles as safe.