Tesla Faces Financial Decline, Protests, and Safety Recall Under Musk's Dual Leadership

Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration and Tesla's struggles have driven stock losses, consumer backlash, and political tensions.

Tesla's stock has dropped nearly 50% since December 2024, erasing billions in market value and raising concerns among investors and employees.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalled over 46,000 Cybertrucks due to safety issues with exterior panels detaching while driving.
Protests and acts of vandalism targeting Tesla dealerships, vehicles, and charging stations have escalated, with some incidents involving arson and Molotov cocktails.
Tesla owners are trading in their vehicles at record levels, with March 2025 seeing the highest share of Tesla trade-ins ever recorded, according to Edmunds data.
Elon Musk's dual roles as Tesla CEO and head of the Department of Government Efficiency have sparked criticism over conflicts of interest and damaged Tesla's brand.