Kia troll Elon Musk, the frustrating Tesla Stans

Posts on Kia’s official Norwegian Instagram page humorously quote the bumper sticker from Tesla owners

Elon Musk has long been one of the most polarized figures in the automotive world, and his recent political entanglement has only amplified that reputation. Kia’s Norwegian division realized the opportunity to take advantage of the controversy and started the conversation, which was the name of Tesla’s CEO that caused some buzz and possibly sold more electric cars in the process.

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The South Korean company posted a photo of the new Kia EV3 electric crossover on Instagram, which contains a bumper sticker that reads: “I bought this after Elon went crazy.” At first glance, it looks like a cheeky joke from the boss of Kia, but it is actually uploaded by Kia Bil Norge, the official Instagram page for Kia Norway.

Tesla’s not very subtle sliding

This marketing move comes in the RIFF sticker for “I bought this before Elon’s crazy” which is popular among Tesla owners and regrets buyers’ increasingly unstable behavior towards Musk. Kia’s version flips the phrase, positioning its electric car as an attractive choice for those with a second idea of ​​Tesla’s loyalty.

Foreseeable, Kia Advertising was with some Tesla fans, especially Tesla stockholders, who soon expressed their anger at X (formerly Twitter). These include vocal Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt, who calls out to Asia-Norway because he thinks the brand is “bad.” Critics argue that the position risked alienating potential customers, and some even inadvertently suggested that Kia’s electric cars are only worth buying as a protest against Musk, rather than based on their own merits.

The Instagram post originally shared in late February was quietly deleted on March 10, probably in response to a strong reaction.

Kia doubles in Finland

Norway isn’t the only place Kia shoots at Musk. On March 7, the largest newspaper in Finland, Helsin Santfull page release ad for Kia EV4 sedan with title “Oh, these days.” This Finnish drama “May of these days” (“Oh, these days”)swapping “joy” for “Elon” creates a not too subtle thrust in the billionaire’s recent antics.

Of course, Kia’s cheeky marketing isn’t the only criticism Musk faces. Protests against him have erupted in several countries, and similar movements have attracted attention in recent months.

Tesla’s reputation issues

Musk’s controversy extends beyond his now infamous tribute and his consistency with far-right politics. His role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration initiative aimed at cutting federal spending, has led to widespread layoffs, further exacerbating public opposition.

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The impact on Tesla’s bottom line is undeniable. Compared to the same period last year, Tesla’s sales in Europe fell 45% in January 2025, in stark contrast to the overall growth of the electric vehicle market in the region. Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock price followed a similar downward trajectory, falling from $479.86 on December 17, 2024 to $248.33 on March 10, 2025, roughly the same level as before the US election in November 2024.