Tesla and Musk both "fall out of favor" as public and investor attitudes grow increasingly indifferent

According to Zhitong Finance APP, on Tuesday, Tesla (TSLA.US) and its CEO Elon Musk are currently facing dual pressures, as both investors and the general public are becoming increasingly indifferent towards them. Tesla's stock price has recently experienced a sharp decline. According to a nationwide economic survey released by foreign media, over 47% of the American public holds a negative view of Tesla, with only 27% expressing a positive attitude, and another 24% remaining neutral. In contrast, the public perception of the established automaker General Motors (GM.US) is much more stable, with about one-third of respondents giving positive evaluations, 51% remaining neutral, and only 10% expressing negative views.

Musk's political stance and a series of high-profile actions have also become one of the main reasons for public discontent. His controversial actions, such as cutting government jobs and openly supporting Trump and the Republican Party, have sparked considerable debate. These actions have led many potential consumers to develop aversion towards Tesla, resulting in protests outside Tesla offices in various locations across the country. The survey also indicates that Musk has become a highly "polarized" public figure. Half of Americans hold a negative view of him, with only 36% expressing support and 16% remaining neutral. This division is particularly pronounced along party lines: among Democratic voters, Musk's net support rate is -82, -49 among independents, and +56 among Republicans.

More concerning is that while many potential consumers have a positive attitude towards electric vehicles, they do not have a favorable view of Tesla itself. In other words, Tesla's brand influence has not resonated positively within its target market. Overall, 35% of Americans hold a negative view of electric vehicles, 33% express support, and the remaining population is neutral. However, this trend becomes more pronounced when broken down by different groups. Men have a net support rate of +11 for electric vehicles, but their attitude towards Tesla is more divided. Young people (ages 18 to 34) have a net support value of +19 for electric vehicles, but -23 for Tesla. Democrats are the most representative group, holding a +20 support attitude towards electric vehicles overall, but a net support rate of -74 for Tesla.

Complicating matters further, while Republicans show high support for Tesla, they hold a negative attitude towards electric vehicles overall. This "cross-positioned" perception makes Tesla's brand positioning in the market even more awkward. This survey was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies from April 9 to 13, targeting 1,000 adults across the United States, with a margin of error of ±3.1%.

Earlier, Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, issued a warning that Tesla is facing a "red alert" moment. He believes Musk should step back from his controversial work in government efficiency and refocus his attention on Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturing company. Ives stated in his report: "Musk needs to leave the government and return to being Tesla's full-time CEO. Tesla is Musk, and Musk is Tesla... If anyone thinks the damage Musk is doing to the brand isn't real, they should spend some time talking to car buyers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and after that conversation, they won't think that way anymore." Two weeks ago, Ives significantly lowered Tesla's target stock price by 43%, citing Musk's involvement in political issues, particularly his ties to the Trump administration's trade policies, which have triggered a brand image crisis.

As the world's richest person, Musk is currently a "temporary federal employee" at the White House, allowed to work a maximum of 130 days a year. Insiders revealed that his term is set to end in the coming weeks, at which point he may leave the White House. However, at this critical moment, Ives believes that Tesla must bring this "most important asset" back to its original position. He continues to express a long-term bullish outlook on Tesla and maintains an "outperform" rating, calling it "one of the most disruptive technology companies in the world in the coming years," provided that Musk must return to the company.

In his report, he wrote: "We believe this is a critical crossroads; if Musk leaves the White House, brand damage may be contained, and Tesla's most important strategic brain can return; if Musk chooses to stay in the Trump administration, Tesla's future may change, and brand damage will continue to escalate."

It is worth noting that Tesla's stock price has fallen 43% since January 17