Overview

• Tesla's stock has dropped 36-45% year-to-date, with first-quarter sales and market share significantly declining, including a 15% dip in California EV registrations.
• Wedbush analyst Dan Ives has issued a stark warning, calling for Elon Musk to leave his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to prevent further brand damage and permanent demand loss.
• Tesla has faced global protests, vandalism, and consumer backlash due to Musk's association with the Trump administration, which has politicized the brand.
• The company is grappling with challenges such as trade war tariffs, delayed product timelines, and intensifying competition in key markets like China and Europe.
• Investors await Tesla's Q1 earnings call today, where Musk is expected to address concerns about leadership focus, robotaxi progress, and strategies to reverse declining sales and stock performance.