Tesla deliveries down 43% in Europe while EVs are up 31%

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Musk’s Collapsing Goodwill & Role Shift

  • Many commenters focus less on the delivery numbers and more on Musk’s extraordinary destruction of personal and brand goodwill, comparing it to historic falls from grace.
  • There’s a sense of loss: he was once seen as a symbol of constructive, tech-driven progress; now viewed by many as a polarizing political actor tied to far-right movements.
  • Some argue he was never truly the inspirational figure he presented—more a gifted hype-man and opportunist than a builder.

Does Musk Still Care About Tesla?

  • One camp thinks he “doesn’t care”: he’s already cashed out heavily, is richer via SpaceX/Starlink, and now prioritizes political power and cultural influence.
  • Others think he miscalculated the scale of backlash and is being driven by ego, drugs, and social-media addiction rather than a coherent plan.
  • A minority argues this is a calculated trade-off: sacrificing some Tesla goodwill to secure regulatory and financial advantages for his broader empire.

Finance, Governance, and Meme-Stock Reality

  • Discussion that Tesla’s valuation is driven more by Musk’s persona than fundamentals; without him, it might trade like an ordinary carmaker.
  • Concerns about pledged Tesla shares, margin risk, and his $55B pay dispute; some fear any forced unwind could hit SpaceX indirectly.
  • Board is widely seen as captured by Musk and paralyzed: removing him could crash the stock and trigger lawsuits.

Why Deliveries Are Down: Disagreement

  • One side: the fall is largely due to Model Y retooling and a “Osborne effect” (buyers delaying for the refresh); they note production-line shutdowns and low inventory.
  • The other side: data from multiple regions and models suggests a broader demand problem, not just timing, and that competition plus politics are biting.
  • Several note that EV sales overall are up in Europe, so Tesla’s decline is relative, not just cyclical.

Competition and Product Weaknesses

  • Many owners say Tesla lost its first-mover edge: Chinese and legacy automakers now offer comparable or better EVs.
  • Non-political complaints:
    • Interiors and materials not matching the price.
    • Poor ergonomics and overuse of touchscreens (gear selection, wipers, lack of buttons).
    • Limited model range (no cheap car, no three-row family EV, Roadster delays).
    • FSD viewed as overpromised and underdelivered; lawsuits over safety and “full self-driving” claims are highlighted.
  • Used Teslas are reported as becoming notably cheap in some markets, which is read as a sign of weakened brand pull.

Politics, Fascism Debate, and European Backlash

  • Several commenters, especially from Europe, say Musk’s Nazi-adjacent gestures, support for far-right parties, and disinformation have made Tesla toxic for many eco-minded buyers.
  • Others push back on labeling him “fascist” in a strict historical sense, arguing his ideology doesn’t match classic fascist economic and state-control criteria.
  • Counterargument: regardless of textbook labels, he is actively helping an authoritarian, illiberal political project and that’s enough for consumers to punish Tesla.

Social Media Radicalization

  • Strong view that Twitter/X accelerated his decline: constant posting, rage-bait politics, and algorithmic “meme brain” supposedly corroded his judgment.
  • Some liken social networks to “tobacco for the mind” and see Musk as a prime example of someone destroyed by his own platform.

SpaceX, Starlink, and Possible Endgames

  • Many believe Musk now sees more upside in SpaceX/Starlink than in low-margin car manufacturing.
  • Debate over Starlink’s real ceiling: some predict it could be one of the largest ISPs by reach; others point to bandwidth, power use, and cost limits versus fiber.
  • Speculation (viewed skeptically by others) that SpaceX could eventually rescue or absorb Tesla if it really collapses, deepening conflicts of interest with US government contracts.