When Australian Dick Friend bought a Tesla in 2015, he was so impressed with its environmental credentials and performance that he and his wife bought two more of the electric vehicles, plus shares in the Elon Musk-led company.

It’s been a tough few months for Elon Musk’s fabled car company as Tesla sales have continued to struggle against mounting competition from Chinese-owned brands. At the same time, Musk’s

Data from Australia ’s Electric Vehicle Council reveals a 35 per cent drop in Tesla sales in the four months following President Donald Trump's election compared to the same period the previous year. Recent incidents of vandalism targeting Teslas in Australia and New Zealand further suggest a backlash against Mr Musk's political stance.

Looking at Germany, the largest market for EVs in the E.U., the country saw a 30% year-over-year rise in electric vehicle sales in February, but Tesla sales were down more than 70% compared to last year—less than 1,500 new Teslas were registered in the country in February.

Tesla owners in Australia and New Zealand continue to swear by the EV’s performance, quality and range but have openly rejected Musk’s political beliefs. According to a Reuters report, a loyalist Tesla customer since 2015,

The 72% plunge for Tesla is nearly double the broader drop in Australian EV sales for the month, down around 37%.