Elon Musk tells Tesla employees ‘hang on to your stock’ as vehicle trade-ins hit record levels

New York Post - Mar 21st, 2025

Tesla CEO Elon Musk addressed employees in a companywide meeting to bolster morale amid significant challenges facing the automaker, including acts of vandalism at dealerships and a spike in vehicle returns. Musk, who is also involved with Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), attempted to reassure the workforce and investors by presenting Tesla's long-term roadmap focused on autonomous driving technology. He encouraged employees to retain their stock, acknowledging the difficult period but emphasizing a promising future. Following the meeting, Tesla shares slightly increased, reflecting a tentative boost in investor confidence.

The company faces a public relations crisis as US Attorney General Pam Bondi has charged individuals with domestic terrorism for allegedly damaging Tesla vehicles. This turmoil comes amid a broader backlash against Musk's political activities, which some analysts believe has negatively impacted Tesla's brand. The rise in Tesla trade-ins suggests waning brand loyalty, as competitors vie for defecting customers. Despite these hurdles, analysts like Dan Ives view Musk's recent efforts as a positive step toward stabilizing the company and maintaining investor trust.

Elon Musk Tesla Pam Bondi Department Of Government Efficiency Stock Market Autonomous Driving Vandalism Dan Ives Vehicle Returns Brand Loyalty

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

5.2

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and relevant overview of the challenges facing Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk. It effectively captures the current issues surrounding the company, such as stock performance and public perception, and highlights Musk's efforts to reassure investors and employees. However, the story could benefit from more precise data, a wider range of perspectives, and greater transparency in sourcing. While the article is clear and engaging, its impact is somewhat limited by the lack of detailed evidence and diverse viewpoints. Overall, the story is informative but could be strengthened with additional context and corroboration.

Accuracy

The news story presents several claims that require verification, such as the extent of vandalism at Tesla dealerships and the exact drop in Tesla shares. While the story mentions a 50% plunge in Tesla shares, it needs precise figures for accuracy. Similarly, the involvement of Elon Musk with Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its impact on Tesla's brand is another claim that needs substantiation. The mention of charges for vandalism as 'domestic terrorism' also requires confirmation. Overall, the story includes factual elements but lacks precise data and corroborating sources for some significant claims.

Balance

The article primarily presents a narrative from Elon Musk's perspective, focusing on his statements and actions. While it includes some critical viewpoints, such as those from analysts like Dan Ives and Jessica Caldwell, it lacks a broader range of perspectives, particularly from Tesla employees or other stakeholders affected by the alleged vandalism and stock issues. The article could benefit from a more balanced representation of viewpoints to provide a comprehensive understanding of the situation.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and straightforward in its language and structure. It logically presents Musk's statements, the context of the meeting, and the reactions from analysts. However, the story could improve by providing more background information on the issues mentioned, such as the nature of the alleged vandalism and the specifics of the stock market performance. This additional context would enhance reader understanding.

Source quality

The story lacks explicit attribution to credible sources for many of its claims. While it references analysts like Dan Ives and Jessica Caldwell, it does not provide direct quotes or links to their statements. The story would be more reliable if it included sources with direct knowledge of the events, such as Tesla employees, law enforcement officials, or more detailed reports from financial analysts.

Transparency

The article does not clearly disclose its sources or the methodology behind the claims made, such as the alleged vandalism incidents or the stock performance data. There is no indication of where the information about Musk's involvement with DOGE or the charges for vandalism originated. Greater transparency in sourcing and methodology would enhance the article's credibility and allow readers to better assess the reliability of the information.