Tesla faces boycott in MY after Elon Musk backs Trump's Gaza plan

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Tesla is facing increasing calls for boycotts in Malaysia due to CEO Elon Musk's support for US president Donald Trump. Trump recently made headlines for his plans to take over Gaza and permanently displace Palestinians from the enclave. According to media intelligence firm DATAXET NAMA, the overall sentiment was predominately negative with 85% negative, 10% positive and 5% neutral sentiments.

Most comments criticised Tesla for being overtaken by its competitors, for its premium pricing that did not suit the broader Malaysian market, and for its entanglement in political controversies. A small minority expressed positive views by defending Tesla’s early innovation and technological prowess, while a few remained neutral.

According to DATAXET NAMA, 30% of comments claimed that Tesla had been overtaken by rivals such as BYD, XPeng,and other Chinese automakers, arguing that its earlier market lead had been eroded by a perceived lack of ongoing innovation and quality improvements.

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Many comments (20%) concerned on whether Tesla affordable for Malaysian consumers, with the brand being viewed as a premium, high‑end product that might not have aligned with the broader market’s affordability and needs. Another 20% of called for boycott due to Trump’s controversial takes on Gaza and connecting Elon Musk to these political issues.

Some users (15%) provided detailed critiques of Tesla’s design and user experience, comparing its technology, build quality, and practicality unfavourably with other EVs in the market while some comments (10%) expressed support towards the new ModelY that had just launched this month and complimented on the model’s outlook and functionality.

A few comments (5%) employed highly emotive language—including the term “swasticar”—to express deep contempt and extreme dissatisfaction with Tesla’s brand, attributing these sentiments to Musk making what was described as a “Nazi gesture.”

The CEO has since dismissed the accusations regarding his hand gestures on X, saying that his critics "need better dirty tricks" and that he is "so tired" of the comparisons of him to Adolf Hitler.

The calls for boycott have reportedly raised questions about Tesla's potential manufacturing plans in Malaysia. Just yesterday, The Edge Malaysia reported that the EV-giant's manufacturing plant in Malaysia remains under discussion. Investment, trade and industry minister Zafrul Abdul Aziz reportedly noted that Tesla may evaluate commercial viability amid intensifying competition in both regional and domestic markets.

Speaking to Dewan Rakyat on 20 February, Zafrul said that Malaysia's initial engagement with Tesla in 2023 primarily focused on setting up EV-related infrastructure. This includes charging stations and sales operations.

The minister reportedly added that several other countries in the Southeast Asian region are also seeking to attract Tesla. However, competition from other EV brands is affecting these efforts, said Zafrul. Some of these competitions include brands such as BYD, MG, Great Wall Motor and Neta.

The minister also noted that Tesla is facing growing global challenges with its sales targets due to the emergence of rival brands offering affordable yet technologically advanced EV models.

Additionally, Malaysian national carmaker PROTON has also unveiled its new EV brand in December 2024. The brand, known as e.MAS, is the nation's first electric vehicle and marks a new chapter in advancing Malaysia's commitment to sustainable mobility.

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