Auf Wiedersehen! Are Germans done with Tesla?

Auf Wiedersehen! Are Germans done with Tesla?

Tesla sales fell by 62% in Germany in the first quarter of 2025, after CEO Elon Musk began involving himself in US and German politics. Is Tesla now too toxic?

Can the Tesla brand be saved?

Branded is a weekly column devoted to the intersection of marketing, business, design, and culture. Elon Musk’s biggest headache is no secret: It’s Elon Musk. Long a controversial figure, Musk lately seems to have made polarization his central project, from his close alignment with Donald Trump and government wrecking-ball efforts to his wild posts on X and personal life. He’s increasingly unpopular. And it’s all done undeniable damage to his fl…

EVs Up, Tesla Down with Musk’s Brand Destruction

85 percent of investors think Musk’s political activities will have a negative impact on Tesla’s market fundamentals. Ya Think? Below, the report above points out that for all the damage done to the company, the purported benefits, in terms of lowered government spending, have not materialized. And, as the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, Tesla’s … Continue reading "EVs Up, Tesla Down with Musk’s Brand Destruction"

Breathtaking Brand Destruction: Why I Broke up With My Tesla

The Tesla I was so excited about in 2000 became, in 2025, “swasticars” to their critics. The once apolitical libertarian allied himself with “drill-baby-drill” Donald Trump, the longtime scourge of electric vehicles and windmills.