Musk tells Tesla employees to hold on to their stock amid protests

Musk tells Tesla employees to hold on to their stock amid protests

  • 21.03.2025 21:01
  • latimes.com
  • Keywords: Protest, Stock Drop

Elon Musk urged Tesla employees to hold onto their stock despite ongoing protests tied to his role in the Trump administration. Amid declining share prices and negative consumer sentiment, Musk expressed optimism about Tesla's future, though resale values for some models have dropped significantly.

Tesla NewsTSLAsentiment_dissatisfiedGMsentiment_satisfied

Estimated market influence

Tesla

Tesla

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: Neutral

Musk's political actions have led to protests and stock decline.

General Motors

General Motors

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: Buy

Used as a comparison for Tesla's situation.

Context

Analysis of Business Insights and Market Implications

Key Takeaways

  • Stock Performance: Tesla shares dropped 34% this year but rose 5% on Friday to close at $248.71.
  • Protest Impact: Protests against Tesla have erupted due to Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration, damaging the company’s reputation.
  • Resale Value Decline: Used Tesla models saw significant depreciation:
    • Model S and Model Y: ~16% year-over-year drop.
    • Model 3: 13.5% year-over-year decline.
  • Product Launches: Musk highlighted plans for robotaxi service, Cybercab, and Optimus humanoid robot in Austin, Texas.
  • Regulatory Issues: NHTSA recall of over 46,000 vehicles due to safety concerns.

Market Trends

  • Decreased Demand: Consumer backlash against Tesla has led to lower demand and falling resale values.
  • Competitive Landscape: Tesla’s reputation challenges resemble those faced by General Motors’ Hummer in the past.
  • Political Risks: Musk’s political affiliation risks alienating consumers, particularly in the mass market segment.

Business Impact

  • Employee Morale: Musk urged employees to hold onto stock and remain optimistic amid company setbacks.
  • Strategic Focus: Emphasis on futuristic products (Cybertruck, Cybercab, Optimus) aims to shift focus from current controversies.
  • Regulatory Scrutiny: Ongoing recalls and safety concerns could harm brand trust and sales.

Competitive Dynamics

  • Consumer Backlash: Negative sentiment has led to decreased loyalty among Tesla owners, with some selling their vehicles or displaying critical bumper stickers.
  • Supply-Demand Imbalance: Increased supply and reduced demand have pressured resale values, impacting used car market performance.

Long-Term Implications

  • Reputation Management: Musk must balance political involvement with business leadership to avoid further consumer alienation.
  • Strategic Balancing Act: Tesla’s ability to recover from reputation damage will depend on managing public perception while maintaining innovation momentum.