Tesla’s second-quarter vehicle deliveries have hit a wall, with the company reporting 384,122 units. This marks a 13.5% decrease from the 443,956 units delivered in the same period last year, illustrating the challenging intersection of politics and product as Tesla heads for its second straight annual sales decline.
The significant drop is largely attributed to consumer backlash against CEO Elon Musk’s political stances, coupled with a vehicle lineup that many consider to be aging. These factors appear to be contributing to a decline in demand, even as the global EV market continues to expand.
The financial repercussions are evident in Tesla’s stock, which has lost 25% of its value this year. Investors are increasingly worried about brand erosion in key European and US markets, where sales have slumped most sharply. The public dispute between Musk and President Donald Trump in early June, which wiped out approximately $150 billion from Tesla’s market value, underscores the direct financial impact of these high-profile disagreements.
Despite efforts to stimulate demand with a refreshed Model Y, the redesign inadvertently caused production delays and encouraged some buyers to hold off on purchases. With most of Tesla’s revenue tied to its core EV business and its ambitious robotaxi plans, the company faces an uphill battle. Analysts are largely predicting a second consecutive annual sales decline, making Musk’s ambitious target of over a million deliveries in the second half of the year seem increasingly out of reach.