Tesla trade-ins data

[jkudlacz]

I should certainly HOPE so, that is after all the entire point of selling early! It is my hope and expectation that in the best case someone will buy our used Model S instead of buying a new one. A pretty good runner-up prize is that we will have put one more EV on the road a few years earlier than it otherwise would have been. And, of course, we have helped to further depress resale prices, which is also a good thing. Moreover, people who know we had the Tesla ask us why we sold it and we get an opportunity to explain that the brand and its CEO no longer aligns with our values and that buying a Tesla is destructive to our democracy. This is also a positive sign and it carries considerably more weight when you are willing to eat an economic consequence to do it. But even if it did no good other that to disaffiliate us from the brand and get us into an awesome R1S two years sooner, it would have been well worth it.

I can not financially sell our Tesla right now and buy another car. I like Rivian a lot and have R2 on preorder but with current interest rates it is hold and wait atm. I am looking at new Model Y Refresh but I do not expect to see any deals/offers until next year, maybe Q1 2026 specifically haha. I hope we see R2 around the same time if not sooner. I bet Rivian and Lucid are super happy with Tesla and Elon situation. We will know soon if this translated to a pickup in sales once we get Q1 numbers from them.

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[tpberding]

Read this on a Hugf Post article.


As Tesla CEO Elon Musk implores his employees not to sell their stock even though “it feels like Armageddon,” Tesla owners are trading in their vehicles at record levels.


That’s according to data tracked by the U.S. car shopping website Edmunds, which found that March 2025 represents the “highest ever share” on record of Tesla trade-ins toward new or used purchases at dealerships.

Teslas accounted for 1.4% of the cars traded in through March 15, up nearly 300% from the same month last year, when just 0.4% of trade-ins were Teslas.

The real reason to get rid of a Tesla has nothing to do with making a political statement. It has to do with disposing of an asset before the bottom drops out of that market or some nut job decides to vandalize your vehicle.

 

[DuncIT]

The real reason to get rid of a Tesla has nothing to do with making a political statement. It has to do with disposing of an asset before the bottom drops out of that market or some nut job decides to vandalize your vehicle.

100%! Obviously, anyone can have any kind of political affection that they want. But if your company is selling EVs you probably shouldn't be working for the government to get rid of EVs, rip out charging stations, and abolishing the EV credit. It just all seems a little counter to your business' goals. I unloaded my Model 3 just before Christmas and replaced it with my R1T (best move ever).

I watched him get crazier and crazier and I sold my stock - also a great move as it subsequently dropped 45%.

I didn't think we'd be able to get rid of my wife's Model Y, because the numbers just didn't work. That was until Polestar offered an additional $5K to Tesla owners. I jumped at it and am so glad we did. Looking at used car values today that $5K wouldn't be enough today, as the value of Tesla used cars continues to drop.

Dunc

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Read this on a Hugf Post article.


As Tesla CEO Elon Musk implores his employees not to sell their stock even though “it feels like Armageddon,” Tesla owners are trading in their vehicles at record levels.


That’s according to data tracked by the U.S. car shopping website Edmunds, which found that March 2025 represents the “highest ever share” on record of Tesla trade-ins toward new or used purchases at dealerships.

Teslas accounted for 1.4% of the cars traded in through March 15, up nearly 300% from the same month last year, when just 0.4% of trade-ins were Teslas.

I’m sure some people are trading in their Tesla’s due to Musk’s behavior, and that’s their right as a consumer, but I’m also sure some of them are upgrading to the new Model Y, which was the best selling vehicle in 2023 and 2024.

 

[andrewgrhogg]

I’m sure some people are trading in their Tesla’s due to Musk’s behavior, and that’s their right as a consumer, but I’m also sure some of them are upgrading to the new Model Y, which was the best selling vehicle in 2023 and 2024.

For sure. We won’t really know until next month state releases. The model Y Juniper released in Europe at the beginning of this month in terms of being able to actually order it. Europe just released their registration data for February and it dropped 47% you’re over your Versus a 50% drop in January. We won’t know till the middle of April what marches registration numbers were and then we’ll have a good idea of what’s actually going on… Are people not buying Teslas or are they just waiting for Juniper?

 

[Count Orlok]

I get what you're saying, but Cybertruck is like the definition of large vehicle of excess...

Hummer EV has entered the chat

 

[s4wrxttcs]

I think people underestimate how passionate Tesla drivers are. At least the early adopters.

They bought into Elons dreams hook line and sinker for transitioning away from ICE vehicles.

It really wasn't just a car but you bought into an idea. A new way of doing things.

You don't have to go far back to when Tesla owners would actually help out during quarter end deliveries. Tesla also purposely catered to parents and owning a Tesla became "cool parent" thing to have. The gaming, the farts, etc.

No one can possibly say that these very people wouldn't feel betrayed by Elon's actions.

Now sure in pure investment terms I'd advocate a hold position. Let it all play out and hopefully Elon gets the boot from the Tesla. But, people are emotional creatures. We simply don't like having things that go against our core values. Especially when there is fear (however overblown) of our OWN people attacking us for simply owning a product.

I also wonder how much anti-AI sentiment is playing out as Tesla is an AI company now. Where automation/FSD carries significantly more weight on the valuation of the company than the cars.

The way I see it:
Federal Government controlled by the super rich - More billionaires in the cabinet than any other time in modern history
Federal Government opposed to regulating AI - I do feel like Biden got carried away but having no regulation is a terrible idea
AI controlled by the super rich - Ironically we have some hope from China
Humans not being paid back for our work

In a lot of ways I think this is exactly why Elon "invested" hundreds of millions into the current administration. The pay off was billions more in contracts and deregulation of AI.

I do wonder how much guilt plays a role. That we Tesla owners (current and past) were responsible for creating this monster. That its of our own doing.

 

[Luvolbikes]

I think people underestimate how passionate Tesla drivers are. At least the early adopters.

They bought into Elons dreams hook line and sinker for transitioning away from ICE vehicles.

It really wasn't just a car but you bought into an idea. A new way of doing things.

You don't have to go far back to when Tesla owners would actually help out during quarter end deliveries. Tesla also purposely catered to parents and owning a Tesla became "cool parent" thing to have. The gaming, the farts, etc.

No one can possibly say that these very people wouldn't feel betrayed by Elon's actions.

Now sure in pure investment terms I'd advocate a hold position. Let it all play out and hopefully Elon gets the boot from the Tesla. But, people are emotional creatures. We simply don't like having things that go against our core values. Especially when there is fear (however overblown) of our OWN people attacking us for simply owning a product.

I also wonder how much anti-AI sentiment is playing out as Tesla is an AI company now. Where automation/FSD carries significantly more weight on the valuation of the company than the cars.

The way I see it:
Federal Government controlled by the super rich - More billionaires in the cabinet than any other time in modern history
Federal Government opposed to regulating AI - I do feel like Biden got carried away but having no regulation is a terrible idea
AI controlled by the super rich - Ironically we have some hope from China
Humans not being paid back for our work

In a lot of ways I think this is exactly why Elon "invested" hundreds of millions into the current administration. The pay off was billions more in contracts and deregulation of AI.

I do wonder how much guilt plays a role. That we Tesla owners (current and past) were responsible for creating this monster. That its of our own doing.

Well said. A few years ago I would have bought a Tesla for the reasons you mention. Tesla was crucial for the early viability of ev development even if the 2 original engineers were forced out by Musk. His wall street money made Tesla possible. Now I wouldn't even consider buying one. I vote and purchase by my conscience. I see Musk's potential for greed and destruction as without limit. Like his father said. He can do huge things but with a huge ruble pile.
So glad for RJ and Rivian and the ev boom from numerous other manufactures large and small. Next threat. China and BYD et al.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Hummer EV has entered the chat

Haha. Hummer EV, Chevy Silverado, Cadillac Escalade IQ, etc. Notice these are all coming out of the same automaker.

 

[bfilippo]

100%! Obviously, anyone can have any kind of political affection that they want. But if your company is selling EVs you probably shouldn't be working for the government to get rid of EVs, rip out charging stations, and abolishing the EV credit. It just all seems a little counter to your business' goals. I unloaded my Model 3 just before Christmas and replaced it with my R1T (best move ever).

I watched him get crazier and crazier and I sold my stock - also a great move as it subsequently dropped 45%.

I didn't think we'd be able to get rid of my wife's Model Y, because the numbers just didn't work. That was until Polestar offered an additional $5K to Tesla owners. I jumped at it and am so glad we did. Looking at used car values today that $5K wouldn't be enough today, as the value of Tesla used cars continues to drop.

Dunc

This exactly. I had begun chatting with a Cadillac dealer in January about a used R1S they had and trading in our MY. Thankfully we locked in that trade-in number while I negotiated the price of the R1S down to their cost basically, and then they just needed the transaction to happen, begrudgingly sticking to the offer on our MY. While I still took a hit due to the basic cost differential of the vehicles, I knew if we waited 6 months the price would be so depressed we would be stuck with it for years and outside of warranty mileage, it would have become a literal money pit.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

I feel bad for Tesla owners. A couple years ago the price drops hurt a lot of owners. This year it’s Elons politics.

They are great vehicles but I also have convene about insurability if this campaign against Tesla continues.

Elon could care less meanwhile Tesla owners and employees that can least afford it are being harmed.

 

[Rividiculous]

I also wonder how much anti-AI sentiment is playing out as Tesla is an AI company now. Where automation/FSD carries significantly more weight on the valuation of the company than the cars.

I think that's a good question, but I also think it's worth challenging the premise.

Is Tesla really an AI company? One has to wonder how people can value it that way when Elon has xAI and has, in the past, threatened to develop AI outside of Tesla if he doesn't get 25% of it. Given we have seen Elon play very fast and loose with taking resources from one of his companies and giving them to another (or deploying them to DOGE), it seems to me that banking on Tesla being an AI company is unsound. That's part of what makes its multiples look crazy. (If it IS an AI company, one still has to consider whether an AI company run by a ketamine fueled maniac who has a stake in multiple other companies, including another AI company, is a good bet.)

Meanwhile, Rivian has its JV with VW that is based on its software platform. So who's the software/AI company? (And, hey, I am NOT a shareholder. I'd like to be but am not allowed to trade.)

 

[KRG]

I agree it’s sad. I had a Tesla and loved it. What they’re now able to provide at a price accessible to the masses is really amazing. What Elon is doing to the company is crazy, and the lunatics on the flip side damaging property are just as bad.

Hope something changes before it’s too late.

 

[Juantana]

I’m guessing there were a lot of people who had no idea how crazy he was before. Not everyone pays attention to the side stories in the Tech section of news sites.

But when you’re elevated to the level of notoriety he’s at now, everything is front & center.

To be honest, I didn’t realize it until the last few years (just before the whole Twitter thing). I had a coworker who’s absolutely despised him for over a decade. He told me how much of an a-hole he was, and I didn’t believe him.

Former Tesla owner here - last snowstorm it slid into a ditch at 18 mph and all airbags deployed & it's totaled. I was honestly shocked, I loved that car, but the build quality was never the best which that crash proves IMO - now I'm holding out for the R2 and excited about being a Rivian owner. Here in DC if you don't have some anti-Elon sticker you risk getting your car damaged - I def don't agree w trashing people's cars, you don't know when they purchased and you're not hurting Elon by it. Prob alot of CEOs of other carmakers are far right as well, the diff is they dont feel the need to tweet and shout from the rooftops every thought that comes in their brain like autistic Elon does. I'm also a govt employee so def not sad that my Tesla is no more considering he doesn't want me to have a job to pay for it.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

I agree it’s sad. I had a Tesla and loved it. What they’re now able to provide at a price accessible to the masses is really amazing. What Elon is doing to the company is crazy, and the lunatics on the flip side damaging property are just as bad.

Hope something changes before it’s too late.

It’s very frustrating. I’m leasing a Tesla Model 3 until the R3 comes out. The value of a Tesla EV is unmatched right now, but I’m hoping Rivian catches up in the next few years.

There’s no excuse for vandalizing someone’s property. It’s just stupid. If anything the person is taking their damaged Tesla to the service center to get repaired and Tesla is making more money.

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