Tesla's recent SEC filing includes anti-Musk protests as an official risk factor, highlighting their significant impact on the company.
Global protests against Elon Musk and Tesla, fueled by Musk's involvement in the Trump administration, have escalated. The protests, organized in part by groups like Tesla Takedown, have targeted Tesla operations, products, and personnel.
Tesla's updated SEC filing acknowledges that negative perceptions stemming from these protests, along with broader criticism, may harm the company's brand, sales, and fundraising capabilities. This marks a significant change from previous filings, which only addressed general criticism.
Tesla's recent financial results showed a substantial year-over-year drop in automotive revenue and profit, which executives attributed partly to the negative impact of the protests. While a direct causal link between all protests and specific acts of vandalism isn't explicitly stated, the SEC filing acknowledges the overall negative effect.
Tesla Takedown, a group involved in organizing the protests, views Tesla's inclusion of the protests as a risk factor as an endorsement of their movement and its impact.