Tesla’s Troubles Tied to Musk’s ‘Doge’ Involvement, Says Marketing Pro

Tesla’s recent struggles, including a dramatic fall in brand reputation and declining sales, are directly linked to Elon Musk’s controversial role leading the “Doge” department for the Trump administration, according to top US marketing professor Scott Galloway. Speaking on the Pivot podcast, Galloway highlighted that Musk’s brutal job and spending cuts have alienated Tesla’s core buyers.
Galloway presented stark figures: Tesla’s brand reputation has plummeted from 8th to 95th place since 2021. Furthermore, significant sales drops across European markets (e.g., 81% in Sweden, 74% in the Netherlands) indicate a major disconnect with consumers. Musk’s political interventions in Europe via X have also reportedly deterred customers, allowing Chinese rival BYD to surpass Tesla in European sales for the first time. The financial strain is evident, with Tesla reporting a 71% dip in profits. Following these setbacks, Musk has announced a scaling back of his “Doge” responsibilities, asserting that his work in government financial reform is “mostly done.”