Fed-up Tesla owners say they're so sick of Elon Musk's antics that they're ditching their cars

• Some Tesla owners are done with the electric-car brand over Elon Musk's antics.

• Musk was always outspoken, but lately, he's become increasingly political and controversial.

• We spoke to three Tesla owners who say Musk has made them rethink their relationship with the brand.

A self-described former Tesla fanboy, Bob Perkowitz was among the first few thousand people to reserve a Model S way back in 2009. He took delivery in 2012 and eventually upgraded to a 2017 edition of the same sedan.

He was planning to buy a 2022 model, too. Then things went off the rails.

Perkowitz is one of many Tesla owners rethinking their allegiance to the brand as Elon Musk becomes an increasingly erratic and polarizing figure online. Tesla's CEO has always been outspoken, but in recent months — and particularly after he bought Twitter — the persona on display to his 125 million Twitter followers has shifted from that of the occasionally irreverent, visionary entrepreneur to something decidedly more belligerent and political.

Tesla owners say Musk's antics are becoming too much

Perkowitz says he hasn't bought a new Tesla because of Musk's right-wing views, his tumultuous Twitter acquisition, and his radical emphasis on free speech, which Perkowitz believes will allow misinformation to run rampant on Twitter.

"Elon was a really good reason to buy the car," Perkowitz told Insider. "He had a great brand. He is not such a great brand anymore."

Alan Lasoff, of Calabasas, California, is currently leasing a Model Y SUV, but won't be getting another when his term expires. For him, the decision boils down to what he sees as the billionaire's hypocrisy and amplification of conspiracy theories.

"He told everybody he's buying Twitter because he wants it to be sort of apolitical, and on the eve of the election he says you should vote for Republicans," Lasoff told Insider. "He can have his opinion, but the thing I really despise in people is hypocrisy."

John Byrne, a software CEO in Maryland, hadn't been a huge fan of his 2020 Model X SUV for some time. He said it was creaky, vibrated at times, and was of an overall build quality that didn't justify its $95,000 price tag.

But Musk's behavior since the Twitter saga — particularly his broadcasting of right-wing views and attack on Anthony Fauci — was the final straw. Byrne traded in his car for an electric Audi in late 2022.

"I don't want to be a brand ambassador for them anymore," Byrne told Insider.