The Elon Musk boycott is fizzling out–and Tesla is winning again
After a period of declining sales attributed to consumer backlash against CEO Elon Musk, Tesla is experiencing a resurgence in demand. Recent data suggests the boycott is fading, with Tesla regaining market momentum and outperforming expectations.
Background
- Tesla, the dominant electric-vehicle (EV) maker, saw share value and sales dip in early 2025 as some buyers avoided the brand over CEO Elon Musk's controversial political activity (e.g., his role in the Trump administration's "Department of Government Efficiency" and his embrace of far-right figures). The "Tesla Takedown" protests and vandalism of dealerships followed.
- The article reports that this backlash is fading: Tesla's stock and European sales are recovering, and the company's upcoming cheaper models and robotaxi plans are restoring investor confidence.
- Key context: Musk's political turn alienated the left-leaning early-EV-adopter base, but Tesla's loyalists and growing international markets (China, etc.) still drive demand. The story frames this as a "losing the battle, winning the war" scenario for Tesla.