Is Elon Musk hurting Tesla? (Mod Note Post #1)

Landfill

Presumably if you're selling a Tesla you are buying another car which would not be a Tesla. You could also be selling it to somebody who was maybe going to buy a new one but now Musk has lost out on that sale

A few years ago the Tesla's were the environmentally conscious celebrities car. Muskey made a lot of money on the back of that. A celebrity giving up their Tesla is a reversal of how the car brand was portrayed in the early years

But you are correct, there is no loss involved to Muskey because at some point that Tesla was bought brand new and that's where he profits from it.

For those looking to buy a brand new EV, however, watching celebs giving up their model S's and reading what is written in tabloids will turn some of those potential buyers off the brand

This piece from the Netherlands may shed some light on your question..

https://nltimes.nl/2025/02/22/tesla-floods-dutch-used-car-market-amid-declining-new-sales

In January, 8,545 used Teslas changed hands, a sharp increase from the 1,707 transactions recorded in the same month last year. The surge includes sales between dealers, from dealers to consumers, and direct sales between private individuals.

With the market flooded, used Tesla prices have dropped significantly. The average price of a secondhand Tesla on AutoTrack has fallen to around 21,000 euros, down from 33,000 euros a year ago. Some Tesla Model 3s are now listed for as little as 16,000 euros, though these typically come with higher mileage.

Well the massive drop in secondhand value would be a serious disincentive for many to buy new, although I haven't seen if the fall in secondhand value is much greater than for all other EVs.

It has been said a few times on the thread about the Inster EV that it's price new of around 20k does reduce the depreciation fear for many contemplating their first EV purchase. But if Tesla's are getting cheaper secondhand it they might tempt some first EV buyers who'll feel the big depreciation has already happened. And yes before anyone says it, I know the Inster and Tesla models are in uncomparable segments.

Share price continues to plummet

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/why-tesla-stock-plummeting-today

Worse than being associated with conspiro-fascism, I'd say, is that the association with Musk's weird antics and personal life is making the cars uncool… Mutiny incoming??

Tesla share price down nearly 9% today and 20% this year.

Meanwhile in London

image from The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/25/i-felt-nothing-but-disgust-tesla-owners-vent-their-anger-at-elon-musk

Mmm, I would argue sending money to an actual dictator who has committed crimes against humanity might not be better. How about, if you're going to show some moral courage, do not buy a Tesla OR any of the Chinese brands.

Tesla loses the 1 trillion dollar valuation it gained last November.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/25/business/elon-musk-net-worth-tesla/index.html#:~:text=Tesla's%20market%20value%20dropped%20below,the%20European%20Automobile%20Manufacturers'%20Association.

Investors believed that Musk’s influence in the Trump administration would usher in an era of deregulation that will benefit the company. Musk, Tesla’s largest individual shareholder, was roughly $83 billion richer since Election Day by the end of November.

I had been wondering why Trump was going with 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico but only 10% on China. Tesla as it turns out is one of the brands with most parts made in the USA whereas Ford has some models that rely on 80% of parts and materials from Canada and Mexico.

The most "American-made" vehicle on the market today is a Tesla, specifically the Model 3 Performance, followed by the other models in Tesla's lineup. The next most American car is the Ford Mustang GT, followed by the Honda Passport.

That's according to the latest Made In America 2024 Index released this week. Not only did Tesla top the Detroit Three in the most American content, but the index showed that, since 2015, Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan and Honda all increased their U.S. content in their vehicles while General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis had declines in domestic sourcing.

https://eu.freep.com/story/money/cars/2025/01/07/most-american-cars-based-on-parts-labor-location/77489771007/

However if Musk's personal behaviour is impacting sales in the US the real winners will be foreign owned brands that source the most parts domestically.

That CPAC interview was a car crash and very obviously he was under the influence of drugs,

I watched the clip you posted. He always talks like that…. lots of mumbling and ummms and awws…. I didnt think it proved he was on drugs…. unless he's been that way for many years?!

You don't need to be a doctor to know if somebody is on drugs or not. In fact an Emergency Medical Technician is licensed to give drugs to have somebody "come down" off a drug high

he's on record as being a ketamine user.

You said only haters would say he's on drugs. I'm on drugs this week for an infection.

Musk is on drugs too, it's a fact.

Anyone who uses twitter, or starlink and criticises others for driving a Tesla, is an absolute hypocrite and should be ignored. Imagine driving a BYD and looking down at someone who drives a Tesla. 🤡

ah come on - yes he’s socially awkward, but he usually does that pause before answering a question, to make it seem like he’s considering his answer and then speaking.

This was Joe Biden level incoherent gibberish, and random strings of words