Tesla and Elon Musk Dominate Conversations for Uber, Lyft Drivers

• Uber and Lyft drivers with Teslas stated passengers wish to know what they consider Elon Musk.
• Drivers stated they do not like speaking politics as a result of they worry it might damage their suggestions.
• They shared how they navigate these conversations and attempt to hold riders joyful.

Some Uber and Lyft drivers with Teslas do not wish to speak with riders about Elon Musk — however they’re going to play alongside as a result of it is good for enterprise.

Wesley Johnson stated his passengers repeatedly point out Musk and that the feedback have skewed extra negatively in current months. Johnson stated he would not agree with all of Musk’s political beliefs however is a giant fan of Tesla vehicles — and he retains these opinions to himself.

“After they deliver up Elon, I simply roll with the rider,” stated Johnson, who’s in his 60s and drives within the San Francisco space. “I simply wish to hold them joyful.”

Three rideshare drivers informed Enterprise Insider that, in current months, Musk has turn out to be a sizzling subject of dialog throughout their journeys due to their automotive. Musk, the cofounder and CEO of Tesla, has been within the highlight currently as he works alongside President Donald Trump because the de facto chief of the Division of Authorities Effectivity.

The drivers stated that their passengers — who run the gamut from Musk haters to superfans — repeatedly ask them what they give thought to Musk and share their opinions. The drivers stated they’ve rigorously navigated these conversations as a result of they do not wish to jeopardize the information and scores they obtain from prospects — making a difficult earnings surroundings much more tough.

Rideshare drivers get fewer suggestions than drivers for platforms like DoorDash and Grubhub, and a number of other drivers beforehand informed BI that poor buyer tipping lately has made it significantly tougher to develop their incomes.

Moreover, a low driver ranking might make it tougher for a driver to get passengers and turn out to be eligible for rewards applications. It might additionally result in their account being deactivated.

Uber, Lyft, and Tesla didn’t reply to a request for remark from BI.

Drivers wish to hold riders joyful

Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t the one people who find themselves hesitant to speak about politics throughout their work hours. Fifty-seven % of US adults stated they’ve at instances prevented voicing their political beliefs due to worry of poor therapy or harassment, per a Gallup ballot of 9,894 Individuals performed in Might. Moreover, some employers have requested employees to chorus from discussing politics at work or barred them from doing so.

Trent T, who’s based mostly in South Florida, stated his riders’ emotions about Musk have trended extra optimistic in current months. When somebody brings up Musk, Trent stated he replies with a impartial remark, like, “He is actually good though I do not at all times agree with stuff that he is doing.” He then waits for the rider to disclose their opinion and adjusts accordingly.

“In the event that they inform me they cannot stand him, then I am unable to stand him, and we are going to each agree on that,” stated Trent, who’s in his 50s, and requested to not use his final title because of worry {of professional} repercussions. “So it doesn’t matter what they imagine, they’re going to go away a greater ranking for me.”

Jay Keleher hasn’t been as fortunate. Whereas buyer suggestions can range based mostly on a number of elements, Keleher stated some riders aren’t followers of Musk — and, by proxy, his Tesla. He added that his suggestions as a share of his complete earnings have dipped to 12% this 12 months from about 17% over the past 4 months of 2024, per his calculations.

He stated that not less than a number of instances per week, a rider asks how he feels about Musk after which shares their ideas.

“I normally allow them to say what they need about Elon,” stated Keleher, who’s 42 and lives close to Albany, New York. “My reply is I haven’t got an opinion on him.”

Johnson stated he is had higher luck getting suggestions from passengers since he switched from driving a Mercedes to a Tesla two years in the past. He thinks that is partly as a result of some riders have not been in a Tesla earlier than and discover the expertise fascinating, however he is aware of a number of different elements may be affecting his suggestions.

“Some individuals just like the automotive, however they do not like him,” he stated of Musk.

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