Elon Musk's antics have turned off some Tesla buyers — but it won't matter in the long run

• Tesla has a strong and loyal fanbase that keeps coming back to the brand.

• But as the EV-buying population shifts, so might buying priorities and interest in the company.

• Yet Tesla's advantages in terms of charging and pricing are likely to maintain its lead.

Tesla has been polarizing for some time, largely due to its chief executive, Elon Musk.

So far, this hasn't really impacted Tesla's stronghold on the electric-vehicle market. Even as new buyers enter the market, Tesla could stay immune for some time, experts say.

Generally, Musk has an extremely loyal customer base despite controversies like his acquisition of Twitter and shoulder-rubbing with certain political figures. But regardless of some worsening opinions of Musk, Tesla's reputation has remained mostly unscathed. People buy and drive the cars regardless.

History repeats itself

For some time, many American car buyers swore off purchasing a non-American-made vehicle. Yet the industry eventually saw the proliferation of automakers like Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda — largely due to their affordability and fuel efficiency.

"There's a difference between people's allegiances to their country and what they buy at the store," Bill Russo, CEO of advisory firm Automobility, previously told Insider.

People swore off Volkswagen after its several-billion-dollar diesel emissions scandal — yet the brand saw a bounceback. And many were calling to boycott GM after it received a massive bailout during the 2008 financial crisis, though the company has retaken the top-selling crown in the US.

It goes to show buying behavior and ideology aren't always synced up.

"One thing that's absolutely universal is people buy affordability," Russo added.

Likewise, upcoming EV buyers might (and in some cases, already do) find themselves compromising on the way they feel about Tesla simply as a result of it being one of the best EV options in today's market.

"Whether you like Tesla or Elon Musk or whatever, it's probably irrelevant," Martin French, managing director at consultancy Berylls, said. "They've proven that they're the leader in EVs, and now they seem to be encroaching on some market share" from the gas-powered market, too.