Tesla owners tend to get a lot of hate, even more than drivers of most other luxury vehicles, like the former brand with the most hated drivers, BMW. And according to a recent study, at least some of that hate may be justified. Jerry, an AI-powered car insurance broker and auto refinancing service, examined safety scores and other data from 10 million car trips taken by 62,000 drivers, including 30,000 trips by 228 Tesla drivers. The study considered overall safety scores and acceleration, braking, turning, and speed data. Here’s what they learned about who Tesla drivers are and how they drive.
According to the data Jerry found, when you consider who’s the owner of a Tesla, the result is overwhelmingly male. Eighty-three percent of drivers were men, compared to 49% of drivers for all other vehicles. Tesla owners are also typically younger; around 70% of drivers are 34 or younger, falling primarily into the millennial and Gen Z generations.
They also found that Tesla drivers were also more educated on average and earned a higher income. One-third of all Tesla drivers have either a master’s degree or a Ph.D. (compared to 13% of the general population). Engineers, managers of operations, and software engineers were among the most common occupations of Tesla owners.
Overall, researchers found that Tesla owners are less safe on the road than drivers of other vehicle models. When it comes to acceleration safety, Tesla motorists scored worse than 98% of all drivers. They attributed this fact to Tesla’s “Insane,” “Ludicrous,” and “Plaid” modes (yes, the names were inspired by the classic Mel Brooks film Spaceballs). These modes allow cars to accelerate quickly—but sudden speed bursts lower acceleration safety scores.
Jerry also found that Tesla owners scored below average for speed scores and overall safety. Speed scores look at the driver’s speed relative to the speed limit. However, the lower-than-average scores may not be very significant as Tesla drivers’ average and average top speeds were lower than non-Tesla drivers. The differences in overall safety averages were minimal as well.
The one area where Tesla owners did better than others was distraction, which looks at how frequently drivers handle their smartphones while behind the wheel; the fewer times the device is handled, the higher the score. Tesla drivers were ranked 10th out of the 52 car brands Jerry looked at. This data, however, fails to consider the 15-inch touchscreen that comes standard in Tesla cars, which could also be a distraction, and would not factor into the distraction score in this study.
Autopilot issues
Another safety issue that has surrounded Teslas and their drivers is the use of the autopilot feature. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there have been over 730 crashes involving Teslas using the autopilot feature since 2019.
The Tesla autopilot system allows drivers to turn the driving of the car over to its onboard computer. Tesla doesn’t advise drivers to completely cede control, however, it tells owners to keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times, stay observant of road conditions, and be ready to take immediate action. The car has a monitoring system to warn the driver to keep their hands on the wheel, but there is no way of ensuring that drivers comply. A study from MIT showed that drivers using the autopilot feature tended to be more distracted and look away from the road than drivers who didn’t use the feature.
Tesla owners are typically white men, a study that analyzed drivers of several Tesla models found. The typical Tesla owner has a household income of more than $150,000 a year, according to the study. Tesla owners are also more likely to own a home and not have children living with them.
Tesla owners are also typically younger; around 70% of drivers are 34 or younger, falling primarily into the millennial and Gen Z generations. They also found that Tesla drivers were also more educated on average and earned a higher income. One-third of all Tesla drivers have either a master's degree or a Ph.
Tesla owner demographics: average income of a Tesla owner
The average household income of a new Tesla owner in 2024 is $150,015, down slightly from 153,135 in 2018. Breaking that down, new Model X owners in 2024 have an average income of $161,898 in 2024, a huge jump from $146,623 in 2018.
Tesla, Inc. has been criticized for its cars, workplace culture, business practices, and occupational safety. Many of the criticisms are also directed toward Elon Musk, the company's CEO and Product Architect. Critics have also accused Tesla of deceptive marketing, unfulfilled promises, and fraud.
Tesla Tops Consumer Reports 2022 Owner Satisfaction Ratings — But Mustang Mach-E Top EV. Even though the Mustang Mach-E is the most satisfied electric vehicle model in the world, Tesla still managed to come out on top when it came to brand owner happiness, according to Consumer Reports.
However, Tesla batteries come with an eight year/150,000-mile warranty. With these high repair costs come potentially high insurance premiums. Some insurance companies may even classify Teslas as luxury vehicles, raising insurance premiums even more.
Most Tesla owners are White middle aged home-owning men who have higher household incomes and no children. As the electric vehicle market continues to grow it will be interesting to see how the demographics of Tesla owners (and EV owners as a whole) evolve over time.
At the end of the day, you will likely end up saving money by owning a Tesla. Fuel savings alone can be immense, especially with recent gas prices exceeding an average of $4 per gallon. The average Tesla owner also spends only $282 per year on maintenance, which is significantly lower than most gas-powered vehicles.
As of 2022, 88 percent of Tesla owners own their own homes. Over 70 percent are males and are just under 54 years old. For the brand's most popular model — Model 3, 84 percent of the owners are male and around 46 years old.
Customers who lease typically do 2–3 year leases. Customers who buy typically keep their cars about 5–6 years. Tesla owners - after you got used to your new Tesla, was it worth it?
This makes Tesla auto insurance premiums approximately 50% pricier than for the average vehicle with a full-coverage policy. You'll pay an average of $3,209 annually or $267 per month for full coverage on a 2022 Tesla Model 3, which is 60% higher than the average across all car models.
Tesla's "consideration score" has fallen significantly over the past few years. In February, the EV-maker's score on Caliber's metric of whether consumers trust and like a brand and would consider buying its products plummeted to 31% — less than half its high of 70% in November 2021, Reuters reported.
One of the key components in any Tesla vehicle is its high-capacity battery pack. While Tesla's battery technology has come a long way, issues related to charging and battery life can still arise.
Organisers said they were calling for "a secure water supply" and "real climate protection" and were protesting against Tesla owner Elon Musk's "capitalist sham solutions". Protesters oppose Musk's plan to expand the Gruenheide plant, south of Berlin, by 170 hectares (420 acres), from a current size of 300 hectares.
Tesla customers tend to be incredibly loyal, and 91% of customers plan to buy or lease another Tesla for their next car. Customers are so fanatic about the brand that they are often willing to wait years for the next model.
From a demographic perspective, Tesla has historically targeted the affluent customer segments given the higher cost associated with electric vehicles. These are customers typically aged between 35-60 years, possessing substantial disposable income.
Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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