The least likeable drivers in the UK have been revealed, and it suggests you don’t want to be behind the wheel of a Tesla if you're desperate to be popular...

As Elon Musk continues to make headlines around the world for controversial political standpoints, the British public have chosen Tesla drivers as the 'most hated' across major brands.

Three in five of 2,000 respondents to a new survey voted owners of the world-famous EV brand as either their second or least favourite people on the road.

The new study from car retailer Big Motoring World asked people how they felt about drivers of each major brand and what word they would use to describe them. 

Unfortunately for Tesla owners, fewer than three per cent of respondents ranked them as most likeable.

It comes after other reports suggested that drivers are being put off owning one of Musk's EVs over aversion to its CEO.

Another survey found seven in 10 British adults have been put off from ever wanting to own a Tesla EV due to Musk’s controversial public behaviour.

Musk is one of Donald Trump's most powerful backers, spending $250million on what proved a successful campaign to return Trump to the White House. 

From supporting far-right parties in Britain and Germany on his social media platform X to taking aim at Keir Starmer, there's no shortage of headlines surrounding the colourful CEO and billionaire.

Studies have found that Tesla’s CEO, once incredibly useful as a marketing and awareness tool, is now actively putting people off buying and owning a Tesla EV.

Electrifying.com found that both current EV and potential EV buyers are turning away from the Musk megalomania, and even instead considering Chinese options.

The survey of 1,000 respondents found that the sentiment is equally strong across both current and prospective buyers, with 59 per cent in each group expressing that Musk’s influence would deter them from choosing a Tesla.

Another study from Carmoola discovered that the ‘most powerful unelected man in the world’ has put seven in 10 British adults off ever wanting to own a Tesla.

The same study of 2,000 people also found that 73 per cent of Tesla drivers now feel ashamed to be seen in their vehicles.

Big Motoring World’s findings echoed this with one respondent commenting on Tesla owners: ‘I think the cars are probably okay but could never consider buying one because I couldn’t bear the shame.’

The most popular word used by a fifth of people to describe Tesla drivers was ‘extravagant’, however, multiple respondents used more derogatory terms.

Perhaps more surprisingly, Volkswagen drivers were the second-least likeable owners, with Mini, Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz users rounding out the top 10.

While Tesla stocks have recently plummeted across Europe on the back of Musk's political views, February saw approximately a 20 per cent increase UK registrations with the Model 3 and Model Y among the best selling new models across all fuel types.

This could mean that despite recent changes in Tesla perceptions, the appetite for the cars hasn't dwindled as expected. 

However, industry insight suggests that there's been a sharp decline in consumer interest for Teslas.

New leasing enquiry data from Leasing Options has found that, while overall EV leasing requests have skyrocketed by 509 per cent year-on-year, Tesla's numbers have dropped by 11 per cent over the same period.

Comparatively, key rivals saw explosive growth with BYD enquiries surging 793 per cent, Ford saw a 156 per cent rise and VW's EVs saw 127 per cent increase in interest.

Tesla now ranks 26th for growth in EV leasing enquiries out of 34 manufacturers tracked, it said.

Other fast-rising challengers include Polestar, Kia, Vauxhall and new entrants such as Jaecoo and Omoda, which are quickly making their mark.

More concerning for Tesla, the decline has accelerated in recent months. 

Comparing February 2025 to February 2024, Tesla enquiries have plunged by a staggering 87 per cent, suggesting a dramatic shift in consumer sentiment.

While Leasing Options CCO Mike Thompson points out that 'Tesla has always been so much about brand image' and that 'growing controversy around Elon Musk' is 'alienating customers', he also says that competition is challenging the brand.

‘Tesla, once the undisputed leader in the EV space, is now facing serious pressure from competitors who are matching or even surpassing them on price, range and features,' he told us. 

'Brands like BYD, Polestar, Volkswagen, Kia, and emerging players such as Jaecoo and Omoda are providing strong alternatives, and UK consumers are clearly paying attention.’

What AI thinks a typical Tesla owner looks like...

Participants of the Big Motoring World study were also asked to visualise what they thought drivers of each brand typically looked like, with AI imagery tools used to bring their descriptions to life.

Respondents were given a long list of words and asked which most accurately described drivers of each brands, with the images mocked up based on the most common answers given.  

For Tesla, the survey respondents said the typical owner is a balding, well-dressed white male. 

The study found that many expect VW drivers to be middle-aged women, while Land Rover owners were portrayed as males - also middle-aged - with no hair.

Ian Hajyzamanali, head of marketing at Big Motoring World, believes we often look to attribute certain features and demographics towards motorists of varying brands.

'British people have long had a knack for associating certain car brands with specific driver stereotypes,' he said.

'However, the results from the study and resulting AI images have both proven and disproven many of these stereotypes, showing a change in certain attitudes and stereotypes of particular brands, whereas some remain untouched.

'It's a bit of harmless fun, but often, it’s rooted in the cars’ image and history, meaning that certain stereotypes can often stick with brands for generations.'