Musk’s Companies Plummet in Reputation Poll Amid Political Activism

NEW YORK, NY — Elon Musk‘s companies, Tesla and SpaceX, are witnessing a significant downturn in reputation among American consumers, according to a recent Axios Harris Poll.

Tesla has dropped to 95th place in the annual ranking, a stark decline from its 8th position in 2021. SpaceX faced a similar fall, ranking 86th this year after being in 5th place two years ago. This polling, highlighting the reputations of the most notable brands in the United States, has been conducted since 2019.

The Axios Harris Poll asked 6,231 adults to identify companies with the best and worst reputations. Trader Joe's topped the list this year. Respondents criticized Tesla for its lack of character, assessing the company’s alignment with their values and ethical standards. SpaceX received low scores for its ethical practices and citizenship.

Musk’s pivot to right-wing politics, including an affiliation with Donald Trump‘s administration, has coincided with these negative shifts in perception. Recent protests against Tesla urged consumers to divest their shares and consider alternative electric vehicle options.

Financial struggles also accompany Tesla’s reputation drop. The company reported a 9.4% decline in total revenue and a staggering 71% drop in profits last month compared to the previous year. Musk acknowledged the difficulties during a recent earnings call, announcing he would focus less on managing Dogecoin.

His other company, X, formerly known as Twitter, ranks even lower at 98th, scoring poorly in areas such as trust and ethics. The only entities rated worse are the Trump Organization and Spirit Airlines.