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The Tesla CEO’s polarizing statements have alienated some potential consumers and would possibly be partly to blame for the recent drop in sales.
By Jack Ewing
Jack Ewing has been covering the automotive industry for more than two decades.
Few auto executives are as well-known in the corporations they run as Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive. And none is more prolific when it comes to spreading their political perspectives on social media.
But as Musk’s public persona moves increasingly to the right, Tesla appears to be paying the price for its sales, especially among liberal and left-wing consumers, who are more likely to buy battery-powered cars than the conservatives, according to analysts. and many car owners who responded to a New York Times questionnaire about whether his habit affected his opinion of Tesla.
It turns out that his symbol of an abnormal and impulsive manager has rubbed off on cars, raising doubts in other people’s minds about their quality and contributing to Tesla’s declining sales. On Tuesday, the company reported that its global sales in this quarter fell 4. 8% from the same period a year earlier, following an 8. 5% decline in the first three months of the year.
“Musk is a real lightning rod,” said Ben Rose, president of Battle Road Research, who has a positive view of Tesla’s stock. “There are other people who insult him and others who insult him. There is no doubt that some of his comments genuinely put other people off. For a subset, it is enough to acquire some other brand.
Tesla and a representative from the company’s board of directors responded to requests for comment.
Some of the more than 7,500 people who responded to the Times questionnaire said they were angry about what they perceived as anti-Semitism on Musk’s part, which he denies. Some have been disappointed by the way Musk has treated Twitter, now called the social media platform. His friendly relations with former President Donald J. Trump and other conservative figures have also been cited as concerning. A large majority of readers who responded to the questionnaire criticized Musk.
“You’re basically driving around a giant red MAGA hat,” said Aaron Shepherd, a product designer at Microsoft in Seattle, who said he plans to buy an electric Volkswagen ID. 4 or a Tesla.
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