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

LOL

I'm not saying Tesla is doing well, I'm saying that in an Irish context, and specifically in this community, sk8board's distaste for Tesla is misplaced. Evidence shows that Tesla is well regarded both here and in the wider country.

Elsewhere is largely irrelevant to a buyer here.

Apologies, not you @sk8board, I crossed wires and meant to tag @SchrodingersCat who has expressed some pretty strong anti-Tesla sentiments lately. Also @cnocbui

Someone even suggested they wanted Tesla to go under. Chaps/ladies, the constant harping & grousing is getting really old.

Saab went under, I'm sad about that but if a nazi saluting gimp like Musk drives Tesla to bankruptcy then it's not like there won't be other options for EV workers.

Some other EV company like BYD might buy out the factories, they already make buses in California.

It looks misplaced because the sentiment towards Tesla in this community and elsewhere in Ireland appears to be quietly buoyant. There is little to no identification between Irish buyers and Elon Musk's actions in another territory. The buying threads support the view.

Maybe we are just selfish, or maybe we are unconcerned with the actions of the CEO and general buying decisions in other countries.

Still in profit but down drastically.

I just ordered a new Model Y and I'm wondering how it'll fare in Irish car parks. Begrudgery tends to run high in Ireland and in my experience new cars don't stay pristine for long. I've never made it past six months without a "stick it to the man with his fancy new car" obligatory ding.

Given the strong opinions people have about Tesla and Musk, I can’t help but wonder if this effect is going to be multiplied fivefold. Anyone with experience driving a Tesla here, have you noticed the car attracting any unwanted attention?

Hard to know what to make of Tesla sales here actually. Massive drop in April. But that was the same last year.

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0520/1513922-musk-says-committed-to-tesla/

so much for Tesla being cleansed of all its problems if it changed its CEO (like every other company on the planet would do in this same situation).

It’s honestly hard to see much sales momentum coming from this announcement. I really can’t see it anyway, it feels like he’s toxic to pretty much all sides now, and does nothing to change that - he doubles down every single time.

edit: as it’s behind a paywall:

“Mr Musk (53) downplayed the extent of Tesla’s challenges, saying “it’s already turned around”.

When challenged on this – the carmaker’s vehicle sales continued to plunge across Europe’s biggest electric vehicle markets in April – Mr Musk said that the region is the company’s weakest, but that it’s strong everywhere else.

“Our sales are doing well at this point,” he said. “We don’t anticipate any meaningful sales shortfall.”

Tesla isn’t screwed - they’re just going to sell far fewer cars than their CEO think they will.

He’s bored of selling cars anyway - he’s long since moved on to the vaporware projects

plenty of coverage about BYD overtaking them anyway!

The Cybertruck is very niche. It's target audience would be preppers, people preparing for the apocalypse or an American civil war.

It should never have gone beyond a concept car. It was never going to be a big seller. It wouldn't even fit on most roads outside the US.

It's definitely a blip in the Tesla success story.

Nevertheless they were the target audience. I don't know anything about them falling apart to be honest. I guess it depends what social media bubble you are in.

There definitely a strong private security vibe off the pitch for the CT, probably aimed at those gated communities that are becoming more and more common in the USA. A non open flat bed keeping the flame thrower from getting lifted.

Looking at the sales figures from MarkN's post it really does look like whatever first mover advantage Tesla has well and truly been eclipsed.

That was the eighth recall since launch. That's not normal and has clearly had an effect on sales. And that doesn't include the other issues such as rust spotting on the bodywork. Owners being warned not to wash their cars in the sunshine.