Tesla denies report claiming board looked to replace Elon Musk

Core Viewpoint - Tesla has denied a report claiming that its board sought to replace Elon Musk as CEO amid declining car sales and backlash against his political activities [1][2][5]. Group 1: Board and Leadership - Robyn Denholm, Tesla's board chair, stated that the report about contacting recruitment firms for a CEO search is false and that the board is confident in Musk's leadership [1][2]. - The report suggested that some board members may have acted independently in seeking a successor, but it remains unclear if this was a collective board action [4]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Tesla reported a significant profit drop of 71% in Q1 2023, with profits falling to $409 million from $1.39 billion in the same period in 2022 [6]. - The company's stock has declined, losing about 25% of its market value this year [6]. Group 3: Political Context and Market Reaction - Musk's political activities, including his support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, have led to backlash and protests, impacting sales in key markets [5]. - Concerns have been raised regarding Musk's time management, as he oversees multiple companies, including SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter) [8].