I bought a Tesla for its safety and technology. Strangers have mocked me for supporting Elon Musk, but that won't stop me from buying another one.

• Mitchell Feldman bought his Tesla Model Y in 2022 and was immediately enamoured by the car.
• As a tech CEO himself, Feldman has always looked up to Elon Musk and his companies.
• He was shocked when he was confronted about Elon Musk in a parking lot in England.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with 53-year-old Mitchell Feldman, CEO of Jam 7, an AI-powered marketing platform, from the UK. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I bought a Tesla Model Y in 2022.

My previous car — a convertible — looked amazing, but as a gadget enthusiast, I felt I was missing out on technology and the user experience. There was no touchscreen, integration with my phone, or smart driving.

I was drawn to a Tesla because it had all the things I wanted. It was easy to use and environmentally friendly. I liked the idea of never having to go to a gas station again. The safety features, like assisted driving and situational awareness, also drew me.

I spent around £65,000 on my Model Y, and it's performed over and above my expectations. However, last week, I was confronted by a man who was mocking my Tesla. I've also been seeing negative sentiment toward Elon Musk online.

The sentiments have made me concerned about the resale value of my Tesla, but I still like the car and plan to buy another Tesla soon.

A man approached me in a parking lot and confronted me about my Tesla

Since I've had my Tesla, most people who've gotten into my car easily draw the connection between my love of technology and the car.

Last week, I experienced the first negative reaction to my Tesla. I went to a concert in London, and while I was in the parking lot, I saw a guy with his wife and daughter pointing at my car and laughing.

The guy came up to me in a very confrontational way and said, "Do you support Elon Musk, then, driving a Tesla?"

I was quite aghast. I felt quite violated by the question and didn't know what to say.

I've always admired Elon Musk because I think that a lot of the technology he creates is for betterment. I hadn't considered the impact his work at DOGE was having on the US government; as someone based in the UK, I'm somewhat removed from what's happening. I think Trump has brought in someone who will look at the situation through the lens of a CEO.

But it made me realize how the perception of Musk impacts his brands — which led me to post about the incident on LinkedIn.

The post attracted a lot of attention. There was a lot of polarization between people in the comments; many were negative. Some people were astounded that I said I admired Musk and that I'd damaged my personal brand because of the post.

I respect Elon Musk and like his data-driven businesses

My current business specializes in building AI for marketing purposes, but I've worked in technology for 30 years and have built and sold several technology businesses.

I respect Elon Musk and like that his businesses are data-driven, whether it's Neuralink, SpaceX, or Tesla.Tesla is a pioneer company. Musk is setting new standards for the industry.

Everyone is allowed an opinion, but I'm proud of the fact that I don't conform to the crowd and choose my personal preferences over listening to what everyone else says.

I plan to buy another Tesla

I'm aware that some Tesla owners are trying to distance themselves from the brand. I've seen a trend where people are buying bumper stickers for their Teslas that say things like, "I bought this before Musk went crazy."

This turn of events has made me think, but it hasn't put me off from buying another Tesla. I'm waiting for the new Model Y to arrive in the UK, and then I'll place my order.

Maybe I'll make more of a loss than I thought when I try to get rid of my old Tesla, but that doesn't bother me.

Being in a vehicle that I feel will save my life in an accident is more important to me than the personality or brand of Elon Musk.

I bought the car for the experience, safety, and technology, and that hasn't changed.