Okay, let's dissect this. Tesla's UK numbers are genuinely awful. A drop from 2,677 registrations in October 2023 to a measly 511 in October 2025? That's not a decline; it's a collapse. We're talking about an 81% decrease in two years (approximately). Even compared to last year's 971, it's still a 47% drop. This isn't just a bad month; it's a trend.

The Correlation Conundrum

The obvious question: Is Elon Musk's increasingly unhinged online behavior actually impacting Tesla's sales? Correlation doesn't equal causation, of course. But the timing is... suspect. As the article notes, Musk's "unfavorability rating" in the UK has skyrocketed to 80% after a series of inflammatory comments on UK politics and immigration.

Now, let's be clear: measuring the direct impact of political opinions on consumer behavior is notoriously difficult. But consider this: Tesla has 50 stores in the UK, averaging about 10 vehicle sales per location for the entire month of October 2025. That's abysmal. You have to wonder if potential buyers are walking into those showrooms with a pre-existing negative bias, consciously or unconsciously.

What’s more, this isn’t happening in a vacuum. Tesla's European sales have been shaky for a while, and the UK was supposed to be a relative bright spot after Germany faltered (thanks, in part, to Musk's support for the AfD). But now, it seems the UK is following the same trajectory.

The BYD Factor

And here's where it gets interesting. The article mentions that BYD is now expected to outsell Tesla in the UK for the entire year of 2025. This is despite Tesla having a longer established presence in the market. That's a significant shift in market share, and it suggests that consumers aren't just avoiding Tesla; they're actively choosing alternatives. Is this a case of customers voting with their wallets?

I've looked at hundreds of market reports, and this particular shift is striking. It's not just about competition; it's about a perceived brand problem. Tesla's "stagnant EV lineup" is definitely a factor, as the article points out. But I think the "brand problems brought on by a controversial CEO" are being seriously understated. It’s hard to put an exact figure on it, but the reputational damage is clearly tangible.

Consider the timing of Musk's proposed pay package. Shareholders are voting on whether to grant him up to $1 trillion in Tesla stock over the next 10 years (assuming the company hits an $8.5 trillion market cap). That's $275 million per day if he gets the full payout, as one analyst calculated. While some argue Musk is essential to Tesla's future, others question whether that kind of compensation is "fair to shareholders." (See: The vote that could make Elon Musk the first trillionaire – or prompt him to leave Tesla).

The Robotaxi Mirage

Musk argues that Tesla is shifting its focus from just selling EVs to selling self-driving cars, robotaxis, and humanoid robots. These are still under development, of course. But the promise of these futuristic products is what he believes will drive Tesla's market cap to $8.5 trillion.

The problem? Promises don't sell cars today. The robotaxi fleet, supposedly launching in 2026, remains a prototype. The market is saturated with competitors delivering actual EVs, while Tesla keeps dangling the carrot of future tech that may never fully materialize.

Musk's Miscalculation: A Brand Built on Personality, Destroyed by Personality?

Tesla's success was, in many ways, tied to Musk's persona. His vision, his audacity, his ability to generate hype. But that same personality is now actively harming the brand. His political pronouncements, his online feuds, his increasingly erratic behavior – they're alienating potential customers and eroding the value of the Tesla brand. You can't separate the CEO from the company when the CEO is the brand. And when that brand becomes toxic, the numbers will inevitably reflect it.

The question now is: can Tesla recover? Can it overcome the damage done by its CEO's actions? Or is this the beginning of a long, slow decline?

The Data Doesn't Lie: Musk's Mouth is Costing Him Billions