The Tesla Dilemma: Why Elon Musk Might Be the Problem

Elon Musk's actions have sparked a lot of worry among investors. The CEO's political activities have led to a significant drop in Tesla's stock value. Many pension funds and institutional investors are now questioning the risks of investing in Tesla. The Lehigh County pension fund, for instance, stopped buying new Tesla stocks. This move highlights a key responsibility: when a stock becomes too risky, it's wise to stop investing in it. Tesla's board is under pressure to make Elon Musk focus more on the company. However, this might not solve the real issue. Musk's reputation has taken a hit, and this could hurt Tesla's future. Tesla's sales have dropped, and profits have fallen by 71 percent in the first three months of 2025. This decline is partly due to Musk's political stance, which has alienated a significant portion of Tesla's customer base. Tesla's core customers are typically left-of-center politically. Between 2012 and 2023, half of all electric vehicle purchases in the U. S. were made in the country's most Democratic counties. Musk's political views have pushed away these customers, leading to a drop in sales and profits. There was hope that Republican voters would fill this gap, but there's little evidence of that happening. Even Republicans seem to be turning away from Tesla's electric vehicles. Tesla is a global brand, and Musk's reputation outside the U. S. is even worse. Last year, he tried to influence the German election by backing the AfD, a far-right extremist party. This move backfired, with many Germans rejecting the idea of a wealthy foreigner meddling in their politics. As a result, Tesla sales in Germany, Europe's largest car market, have plummeted by 62. 2 percent this year. Musk's actions have also directly affected Tesla's stock price. On June 5, after he criticized President Trump on his social media platform X, Tesla's stock price dropped by nearly 14 percent. This incident wiped out $152 billion in shareholder value. Musk's response? He didn't seem to care, stating that he would say what he wanted, even if it cost him money. Even if Musk were to step back from politics, there's no guarantee he could turn Tesla's fortunes around. His personal issues, controversial stances, and the fact that he runs multiple companies raise doubts about his ability to lead Tesla effectively. Those invested in Tesla, especially those overseeing retirement savings, need to consider this carefully. The Tesla board might need to think about finding a new CEO.