Tesla suffers worst quarter since 2022 as deliveries tumble

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Brand damage from CEO’s politics

  • Many argue Tesla’s slump is what happens when a CEO fuses personal brand with company brand, then takes polarizing far‑right positions.
  • Core EV buyers are described as educated, more liberal, and wealthier; his politics are seen as alienating precisely that segment, in the US and Europe.
  • Several say they won’t buy a Tesla solely because of him; some mention fear of vandalism targeting Teslas as a form of protest, which others condemn as juvenile, not legitimate activism.
  • There’s a heated side thread on his Nazi-style salute at a major rally: some call it undeniable; defenders say it’s overblown “propaganda” and note his support for a German far‑right (but legal) party.

Market and competitive dynamics

  • Others stress structural issues: more EV competition (Polestar, Lucid, Nissan, Hyundai/Kia, BYD, etc.), slowing EV growth in the US, macroeconomic uncertainty, and fading tax incentives.
  • Several point out that non-Tesla EV makers are growing strongly; Tesla’s decline is dragging down US EV statistics.
  • In Europe, EV demand remains high due to fleet-emission rules, but Tesla’s sales reportedly fell even more than in the US.
  • Debate over Q1 causes: one view blames the Model Y refresh and temporary supply constraints; critics respond that Tesla is demand‑constrained, with no large backlog.

Corporate governance and leadership

  • Commenters say a normal board would have removed him by now, citing erratic behavior and “Howard Hughes trajectory,” but note the board is packed with loyalists and associates.
  • Some argue Tesla’s valuation is tightly tied to him as a meme figure, making his removal risky for the stock.
  • There’s discussion that protests are now aimed at personally damaging his wealth, so merely replacing him as CEO might not ease backlash.

Broader debate about Musk personally

  • Long thread portrays him as having longstanding extreme views, with early signs in the “pedo diver” incident, COVID denialism, Mars-colony ideas involving debt labor, and family dynamics (sex‑selective IVF, estranged trans daughter).
  • Others downplay political calculation and say he simply believes what he says, with COVID and personal events accelerating a shift.
  • Some note a history of broken bets, transactional relationships, and predominantly Republican political donations.

EV sector comparisons

  • Rivian’s deliveries fell even more percentagewise; Lucid is growing from a tiny base.
  • Legacy automakers like GM and Toyota are rapidly increasing EV or “electrified” sales, especially hybrids, narrowing the gap.

Meta-discussion and moderation

  • A side thread alleges that negative Tesla stories get mass‑flagged and hidden, possibly by organized fans.
  • Some note Tesla stock rose despite the bad quarter, attributing it to rumors (unclear in the thread) rather than fundamentals.