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He will never be replaced as the CEO IMO. His cult like following is why the share price is what it is. It's unusual but it was only valued so highly because of

He will never be replaced as the CEO IMO. His cult like following is why the share price is what it is. It's unusual but it was only valued so highly because of him. The shareholders would rather see the company bankrupt than lose his "value add". They believe he will turn it all around, maybe he will? The only question that remains is whether or not his brand is still salvageable. I'm leaning towards "no", he has taken things really far now. People are pretty fickle. But he is doing some really extreme things and I think it's going to be hard to walk back. Personally I think the emperor has no clothes but let's see. Based on what China has been doing with EVs, I'm even questioning the narrative that he actually had much to do with kicking off the EV revolution, or whether or not it was going to happen regardless. I think it's the later. China was already going to be the dominant player and was already moving in the EV direction because their dependence on foreign oil wasn't to their benefit.

alephnerd 2y ago
> I'm even questioning the narrative that he actually had much to do with kicking off the EV revolution I detest Musk, but Tesla was/is one of CATL's largest customers. Without Tesla, the capital to jumpstart the EV Battery industry within China wouldn't truly exist.
- mlinhares 2y ago
  Yeah, they would definitely be there eventually but I doubt they would be there now without Tesla, there just wasn't much interest in electric cars back then.
- blueside 2y ago
  There is no question that Tesla helped accelerate EV adoption in China but BYD's significant battery R&D was already underway and would have happened with or without Elon
  - seanmcdirmid 2y ago
    I rode in an EV BYD taxi in 2016. However, I don’t think EVs would have caught on as fast in China without the Model S setting an example that EVs were viable as full ICE car replacements (they definitely were already there before the Model 3 validated mass market adoption).
    - bamboozled 2y ago
      You have to admit though, there's a difference between saying "never" or "as fast".
      - seanmcdirmid 2y ago
        I think the comment I replied to was edited.
- AtlasBarfed 2y ago
  Come on. The CCP would have backed CATL and BYD regardless, like they have with silicon solar panels and hundreds of other manufacturing segments.
lotsofpulp 2y ago
> His cult like following is why the share price is what it is. It's unusual but it was only valued so highly because of him. Putting up impressive net income figures better than the other car companies and making the best selling car in the world also helps. Plus SpaceX and Starlink are a success. That kind of track record within 15 years could portend more success in the future. It does not excuse the other failings, but business wise, I don’t see what trepidation shareholders would have had (prior to the recent Nazi and destroying US civilian institutions actions).
- Fezzik 2y ago
  Wait, what? Scanning every recent year for individual model and/or company total sales Tesla doesn’t even crack the top 10 in any given year. How does Tesla make the best selling car? What am I missing… Edit: I didn’t scan close enough… in 2024 the Y was around the 4th best selling Model.
  - lotsofpulp 2y ago
    In 2023, the Model Y was the best selling car. https://www.jato.com/resources/media-and-press-releases/tesla-model-y-worlds-best-selling-car-2023 https://www.jato.com/resources/media-and-press-releases/tesl... >As anticipated in JATO’s preliminary 2023 results, released in February, the Tesla Model Y made history last year. The midsize SUV secured top position in the global ranking as the first ever pure electric vehicle to lead the global market. And from a business perspective, it was the best selling car amongst the portion of the world with the most money to spend. That is a pretty impressive achievement for any business. >Impressively, the Model Y secured this position without a presence in most emerging markets, where it continues to be unaffordable for the majority of consumers. And Tesla indicates it sold a similar number of Model Ys in 2024, so it very well could hold the same title again. https://ir.tesla.com/press-release/tesla-fourth-quarter-2024-production-deliveries-and-deployments https://ir.tesla.com/press-release/tesla-fourth-quarter-2024...
  - youngtaff 2y ago
    It’s because Tesla doesn’t have many models whereas other can makers have tens of models
r00fus 2y ago
> I'm even questioning the narrative that he actually had much to do with kicking off the EV revolution I would argue that Tesla did absolutely push the EV industry in the US. China would have dominated outside the US regardless but Tesla's involvement in China probably moved that timeline forward by a few years.

alephnerd 2y ago

> I'm even questioning the narrative that he actually had much to do with kicking off the EV revolution I detest Musk, but Tesla was/is one of CATL's largest customers. Without Tesla, the capital to jumpstart the EV Battery industry within China wouldn't truly exist.

mlinhares 2y ago
Yeah, they would definitely be there eventually but I doubt they would be there now without Tesla, there just wasn't much interest in electric cars back then.
blueside 2y ago
There is no question that Tesla helped accelerate EV adoption in China but BYD's significant battery R&D was already underway and would have happened with or without Elon
- seanmcdirmid 2y ago
  I rode in an EV BYD taxi in 2016. However, I don’t think EVs would have caught on as fast in China without the Model S setting an example that EVs were viable as full ICE car replacements (they definitely were already there before the Model 3 validated mass market adoption).
  - bamboozled 2y ago
    You have to admit though, there's a difference between saying "never" or "as fast".
    - seanmcdirmid 2y ago
      I think the comment I replied to was edited.
AtlasBarfed 2y ago
Come on. The CCP would have backed CATL and BYD regardless, like they have with silicon solar panels and hundreds of other manufacturing segments.

lotsofpulp 2y ago

> His cult like following is why the share price is what it is. It's unusual but it was only valued so highly because of him. Putting up impressive net income figures better than the other car companies and making the best selling car in the world also helps. Plus SpaceX and Starlink are a success. That kind of track record within 15 years could portend more success in the future. It does not excuse the other failings, but business wise, I don’t see what trepidation shareholders would have had (prior to the recent Nazi and destroying US civilian institutions actions).

Fezzik 2y ago
Wait, what? Scanning every recent year for individual model and/or company total sales Tesla doesn’t even crack the top 10 in any given year. How does Tesla make the best selling car? What am I missing… Edit: I didn’t scan close enough… in 2024 the Y was around the 4th best selling Model.
- lotsofpulp 2y ago
  In 2023, the Model Y was the best selling car. https://www.jato.com/resources/media-and-press-releases/tesla-model-y-worlds-best-selling-car-2023 https://www.jato.com/resources/media-and-press-releases/tesl... >As anticipated in JATO’s preliminary 2023 results, released in February, the Tesla Model Y made history last year. The midsize SUV secured top position in the global ranking as the first ever pure electric vehicle to lead the global market. And from a business perspective, it was the best selling car amongst the portion of the world with the most money to spend. That is a pretty impressive achievement for any business. >Impressively, the Model Y secured this position without a presence in most emerging markets, where it continues to be unaffordable for the majority of consumers. And Tesla indicates it sold a similar number of Model Ys in 2024, so it very well could hold the same title again. https://ir.tesla.com/press-release/tesla-fourth-quarter-2024-production-deliveries-and-deployments https://ir.tesla.com/press-release/tesla-fourth-quarter-2024...
- youngtaff 2y ago
  It’s because Tesla doesn’t have many models whereas other can makers have tens of models

r00fus 2y ago

> I'm even questioning the narrative that he actually had much to do with kicking off the EV revolution I would argue that Tesla did absolutely push the EV industry in the US. China would have dominated outside the US regardless but Tesla's involvement in China probably moved that timeline forward by a few years.