Tesla damage survey proves that folks from the Midwest really are that nice
Tesla drivers are dealing with some unpleasant stuff as of late. We’re not talking about recalls, though. No, this is an epidemic of vandalism in protest of the brand and its divisive CEO, Elon Musk. However, the “intentional damage” against Teslas isn’t uniform across the United States, far from it. According to a recent damage and vandalism survey, the Midwest has the lowest percentage of Tesla vandalism by a wide margin.
Midwesterners did far less ‘intentional damage’ to Tesla EVs than other regions of the United States
You’ve likely seen videos of passersby dragging keys along the paintwork of Tesla Model Y and Cybertruck EVs. It’s no gimmick; there’s a steady supply of vandalism in the name of protest with Teslas in mind. In fact, a recent survey suggests that nearly half of Tesla owners reported deliberate damage like tire slashing and keyed paintwork. Nearly half.
However, the Guardian Service survey revealed another interesting fact: Midwesterners are taking out their frustrations on Tesla vehicles at a much lower rate than other regions. According to the survey of over 500 Tesla drivers, 11% of owners in the Midwest reported vandalism. How’s that for Midwestern hospitality?
Granted, that might seem like a substantial slice of the pie. However, it’s practically courteous compared to other regions of the United States. The South was the largest perpetrator of vandal-versus-Tesla damage, with a staggering 46% of owners reporting damage. To the Western US, where Tesla got its start, 21% of owners reported vandalism. That number nearly matches the 22% of the Northeastern states.
Nationwide, the total sits at 44%. Troublingly, the average bill for vandalism claims among those drivers polled was $1,900. Ouch. Unfortunately, all that damage means higher insurance premiums.
Of the drivers in the survey, 61% of Tesla owners reported an increase in their annual premiums. Understandably, the increases have bred pessimism among Tesla owners. 53% of owners expect yet another bump in their premiums before the year’s end.
