Will DOGE Also Kill Tesla? Elon Gains Political Power But Alienates EV Buyers

Elon Musk has cut countless federal jobs in the past 50-odd days but if Tesla’s sales slump continues, the job losses may soon be closer to home.

As the seemingly de facto US president, Musk has let loose his band of unqualified DOGE bros to cancel leases, eliminate Congressionally funded programs, and fire large swaths of federal employees. This “move fast and break things” approach is not popular with the public, and Musk’s affiliation with the Department of Government Efficiency is now affecting Tesla sales. (In case the big sales pitch from Donald Trump on the White House lawn didn’t tip you off.)

Tesla sales have cratered. On Monday, its stock had its worst day in five years, dropping 15% or 50% from its peak value in December. (The stock rallied a bit, likely the result of investors trying to get a deal.) In the US, Tesla sales were down 11% year-over-year in January, while sales in Europe are down nearly 50% from last year, according to Electrek. The largest drop was in Germany, at 76% between February 2024 and February 2025.

Anyone looking to tie the numbers to Musk’s actions can turn to Data for Progress, which in February surveyed over 1,000 likely voters about their feelings toward Musk and how he made them feel about purchasing a Tesla. Nearly half (45%) said that they are less likely to buy a Tesla because of Musk. This was more apparent with Democrats (66%) than Independents (50%) or Republicans (22%).

Musk’s negative impact on Tesla is felt beyond these numbers. The observable sentiment on the street started in Germany; after Musk made the sieg heil gesture (a crime in Germany) at Trump’s inauguration, political activists projected an image of the moment and the word “heil” on a factory near Berlin.

In the US, a movement called Tesla Takedown spread online with calls to sell off Tesla stock in order to diminish Musk’s wealth and thus his political influence. It has resulted in protests at Tesla showrooms across the country. Some have taken the call to arms a bit more literally, with incidents involving Molotov cocktails and vandalism at dealerships.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Those who drive Teslas and Cybertrucks have found that their vehicles are pariahs on wheels. Cybertrucks have been egged (in this economy!) and smeared with dog poop, and Tesla drivers are regularly taunted by Nazi salutes and signs left on their cars. Many are selling their cars, often at a loss. On Facebook, a member of the Cybertruck Owners Forum posted that Congress should make anti-Tesla speech a hate crime. Ironic, given what’s at the root cause of all of this.

About Chandra Steele

Senior Features Writer

My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I’ve been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you’ve just seen my Bernie meme. 

I strive to explain topics that you might come across in the news but not fully understand, such as NFTs and meme stocks. I’ve had the pleasure of talking tech with Jeff Goldblum, Ang Lee, and other celebrities who have brought a different perspective to it. I put great care into writing gift guides and am always touched by the notes I get from people who’ve used them to choose presents that have been well-received. Though I love that I get to write about the tech industry every day, it’s touched by gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality and I try to bring these topics to light. 

Outside of PCMag, I write fiction, poetry, humor, and essays on culture.

Read Chandra’s full bio

Read the latest from Chandra Steele