US President Donald Trump will speak to the media next to Tesla CEO Elon Musk with his son XæA-12 on March 11, 2025 at the White House in Washington, DC.
Kevin Lamarck | Reuters
More than 8 out of 10 respondents in the Morgan Stanley survey believe Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s controversial political activities have hurt his business.
In total, 85% of the 245 participants voted by the company believe that masks’ forays into politics had a “negative” or “extremely negative” effect on the business foundations. The majority of respondents expect Tesla delivery to fall this year, according to the survey.
Though small sampling, these results provide the latest indications of dissatisfaction with billionaire entrepreneurs. It is also a crucial point for Tesla’s stock, with stocks plummeting nearly 40% this year.
When asked about Mask’s efforts to improve the efficiency of the US government and other political activities, 45% of respondents said these actions had a “negative” effect on the company. Another 40% said it had a “very negative” effect.
Meanwhile, 3% said they were “positive” for the business. Meanwhile, 12% called them “insignificant.”
Indeed, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas reported that his survey respondents were drawn from his email distribution list and should not be considered a random representative sample. He also said that respondents are not necessarily owners of Tesla stocks. The investigation took place for 17 hours starting Tuesday afternoon.
Jonas also asked about his expectations for the company’s performance. In another question, 59% said they expected Tesla to deliver fewer cars to customers in 2025 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, 21% of respondents said they expected a decrease of more than 10%. This is because some analysts raised warnings that recent reports of vandalism could surprise potential customers.
Just 19% of responders predicted delivery to rise in 2025, while another 23% said they would flatten over the course of two years.
Musk’s political profile grew after leading the public support of President Donald Trump in the stages leading up to last year’s election and the subsequent role in government efficiency (Doge). The efforts of Tesla executives to significantly reduce federal spending and labor have attracted the outrage of critics who believe his team is working too quickly and by chance.
In an interview with Fox Business on Monday, Musk acknowledged that his famous role in Trump’s administration means running his business, including “very difficult” X and SpaceX. That day, Tesla stock fell over 15% in its worst session since 2020.
Tesla in 2025
Despite the recent dip, 45% of respondents expect Tesla stock to rise at least 11% by the end of the calendar year. Around 36% expect the stock to fall by another 11% or more by the end of the year, while 19% expects it to remain within $220 within 10% of the price.
The president proposed a vote of trust on Tuesday after a New York Times report unearthed criticism from members of Trump’s cabinet. Trump evaluated five Tesla vehicles parked in the White House after the president said he would buy one on social media as a symbol of support.
Trump also said he would declare violence at Tesla dealers a domestic terrorist act.
