Musk Nearly in Tears When Asked About Balancing Government and Business Responsibilities

【PCauto】Recently, Tesla's situation has sparked heated market discussions, as both its market value and sales have been on a downward trend. Elon Musk has become a focal point of scrutiny.

As of March 10, 2025, Tesla's stock price took a severe hit, plummeting by 15.43% to close at $222.15 per share. Compared to its historical peak of $479.86 on December 17, 2024, the stock has effectively been "cut in half," with the company's total market capitalization shrinking dramatically to $714.5 billion. On that single day, Tesla's market value evaporated by approximately $130.3 billion, marking the seventh-largest drop in the company's history. Furthermore, the stock has experienced a continuous decline for seven consecutive weeks, setting a record for the longest weekly losing streak in its 15-year history.

Sales figures are similarly bleak. In the Chinese market, Tesla's sales plummeted by 49% year-over-year in February, with only 30,700 vehicles sold, resulting in a market share drop to 3.9%, down 4 percentage points from the same period last year. The situation is even more dire in Europe, where data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) revealed a staggering 45% year-over-year drop in Tesla's deliveries in January 2025, with just 9,945 vehicles sold. In key markets such as France, Norway, and Germany, sales have faced steep declines: a 63% drop in France, a 38% reduction in Norway, and a dramatic 59.5% fall in Germany, causing Tesla's European market share to shrink from 1.8% to 1%.  In the U.S., research firm Wards Intelligence reported a 7% decline in Tesla's sales last year, with further decreases of 2% in the first two months of this year.

Amid these multiple challenges, Musk struggled to contain his emotions during an interview with Fox Business Network. When asked about how to balance his government responsibilities with managing Tesla and Space X, he sighed deeply and stated, "It's very difficult." Body language experts noted that Musk appeared "uneasy," even on the verge of tears, suggesting that he feels intense pressure from his current circumstances, especially the challenges posed by his new government role.

Delving into the reasons behind Tesla's troubles, on one hand, the global electric vehicle market has become increasingly competitive, with numerous automakers vying for market share, posing significant challenges for Tesla. On the other hand, Musk's appointment as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration has created a conflict between Tesla's original brand image as environmentally friendly and liberal and the current political stance, leading to widespread protests and product boycotts from consumers.

Additionally, the tariff policies implemented by the Trump administration have further exacerbated market concerns about supply chain disruptions and rising costs, casting a shadow over Tesla's production operations and pricing strategies, making its path forward increasingly challenging. Whether Tesla can, under Musk's leadership, reverse this trend and return to a growth trajectory remains to be seen.