Elon Musk warns of Tesla collapse

Elon Musk’s erratic behaviour under fire again as Tesla profits nosedive — here’s what’s really going on.

Is Elon Musk’s eccentric behaviour finally catching up with Tesla? After a 70% profit crash and global boycotts, Musk says he’s stepping back from politics. Is it too little, too late?

Hold on to your charging cables, folks — Tesla’s taken a shock to the system. And at the centre of this electric storm? None other than billionaire tech mogul and Twitter/X agitator-in-chief, Elon Musk. In what can only be described as a high-voltage meltdown, Tesla’s first-quarter profits crashed and burned, with net income plunging a staggering 71% year on year. Revenue? Down 9%. Car sales? Slumped by a painful 20%. And shareholders? Nervously clutching their portfolios as Tesla’s stock price has halved in recent months. So, what’s caused this once-unstoppable EV juggernaut to skid off the road?

Elon Musk: Too many tweets, not enough Teslas?

Critics are pointing the finger squarely at Musk himself — and not just for his penchant for throwing Twitter tantrums. His dive into political waters with his controversial work in the Department of Government Efficiency – complete with CIA blunders and Ebola scandals – has seen him slash social programmes and expel thousands of public sector workers. Cue nationwide protests — not outside government buildings, mind you, but Tesla showrooms. Why? Because to many, Tesla is Musk. And Musk is, well… divisive. He’s Mr Marmite himself. Some love him some hate him, but he leaves no one indifferent.

From boycotts to bumper makeovers, some disgruntled customers have even taken to hiding their Teslas as other brands, just to avoid being associated with the man himself.

‘If America sinks, Tesla will sink’

In a dramatic (and, let’s face it, slightly apocalyptic) earnings call, Musk dropped a soundbite so sensational it could have come from a Hollywood disaster flick:

“If the ship of America goes down, Tesla will go with it,” he declared, according to CNN. Blimey, Elon — ever heard of cheering up your investors?

DOGE days are over (sort of)

Another thorn in Tesla’s side? Musk’s moon-eyed obsession with Dogecoin. Yep, the crypto-meme-currency that started as a joke. Shareholders have grumbled that while Tesla’s profits tank, Elon’s been off chasing crypto rainbows. Like a genius with ADHD who forgets to steer the ship away from the iceberg because he’s busy reinventing Hungry Hungry Hippos — but with blockchain.

But fear not! The SpaceX supreme commander claims he’s now scaling back to just one or two days a week on DOGE duties, promising to refocus on Tesla. After Musk promised to scale back his government duties and refocus on Tesla, the stock jumped more than 5% in after-hours trading — likely because investors saw it as a sign he’d finally get back behind the wheel.

The road ahead: cheaper cars, clearer focus

Looking to jump-start the brand’s appeal, Tesla has announced plans to launch more affordable electric vehicles by the end of June — a move seen as key to surviving the electric arms race.

Meanwhile, Musk insists he’s still fighting the good fight:

‘I think the right thing to do is fight the waste and fraud and try to get the country back on the right track,’ he said, with all the subtlety of a man trying to rewrite the US Constitution between emails.

Why Tesla still matters

Despite the drama, Tesla remains the king of EVs in the US. The brand has driven the electric revolution further and faster than any other, and electric cars are still vital for slashing emissions and cleaning up our air.

Gas-powered vehicles, experts say, pump out pollutants that fry the planet and fry your lungs. Tesla’s mission, at least in theory, is to be part of the cure — not the cause.

But whether Musk can keep his eyes on the road or veers off into yet another political detour remains to be seen.

Have your say: Is Elon a misunderstood genius or a distracted diva? Should Tesla distance itself from its eccentric figurehead? Let us know in the comments!

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