One of Tesla's top Wall Street supporters says Elon Musk faces a ‘moment of truth'

Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk is facing a critical moment at Tesla due to his extensive involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has turned the company into a political symbol, negatively impacting its brand and stock price [1][2]. Group 1: Analyst's Concerns - Dan Ives from Wedbush highlights that Musk has been spending 110% of his time with DOGE instead of focusing on his role as Tesla CEO, leading to a "brand tornado crisis moment" for the company [2]. - Tesla's stock price has fallen to around $230, which is less than half of its all-time peak of approximately $480 in late December [2]. - Protests against Tesla are increasing globally, with vandalism against its vehicles and stores rising to the extent that the new administration has labeled these actions as "domestic terrorism" [2]. Group 2: Recommendations for Improvement - Ives urges Musk and Tesla's board to take action to resolve the current crisis and to stop being silent on the issues facing the company [2]. - He calls for Musk to balance his roles at DOGE and Tesla and to provide a clearer roadmap for the launch of more affordable models and the robotaxi service [3]. - Ives believes that if Musk addresses these concerns, the negative attention surrounding his involvement with DOGE will lessen, potentially avoiding permanent brand damage [3].