Matthew Hiller, a Hawaii-based entrepreneur, has capitalized on the controversies surrounding Tesla CEO Elon Musk by creating a successful business selling anti-Musk stickers. Despite the negative sentiment driving his sales, Hiller revealed that not all customers disapprove of Musk. Hiller, who also works at an aquarium, started his sticker business in 2023 with the slogan “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy.” His dissatisfaction with Musk’s actions led him to distance himself from Tesla, even though he once considered purchasing one. Hiller’s business saw a significant boost following the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, expanding his sticker lineup to include popular designs like “Anti Elon Tesla Club” and “Elon is a dogebag.” To date, he has sold around 70,000 stickers globally, earning up to $100,000 in a single month. Surprisingly, some customers buy stickers as gifts without necessarily opposing Musk. For instance, one father purchased a sticker for his son in Los Angeles, citing protection from potential vandalism against Teslas. Despite his success, Hiller does not plan to leave his aquarium job or focus solely on stickers, noting that banking on a billionaire’s controversies is not a sustainable business model. Additionally, Tesla has sent emails to early reservation holders in India, hinting at an imminent launch there. The company has begun refunding deposits, indicating readiness to re-enter the market. Testing of a Model Y in India and certification processes suggest Tesla is preparing for sales. Tesla also celebrated Earth Day by offering free Supercharging at select stations worldwide. The company continues to expand Supercharger access to non-Tesla EVs, including brands like Kia, Hyundai, and Ford.
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