Elon Musk's Tesla faces a storm as stock prices and sales decline, largely due to public backlash against his Trump ties. Historical boycotts of an American beer brand provide context, revealing how political relationships can impact a company. The show reflects on a brewing family's legacy during Prohibition, highlighting their innovative resilience. The chilling tale of the Coors family's history adds depth, exploring how fear and power influence business. Plus, there’s buzz about an upcoming live show and a new podcast on hidden histories!
Tesla's significant sales decline reflects changing consumer preferences likely influenced by Elon Musk's controversial political affiliations with former President Trump.
The historical analysis of the Coors Brewery boycott suggests that while consumer protests can prompt corporate changes, they may not affect entrenched political ideologies.
Deep dives
The Decline of Tesla Sales
Tesla is currently facing a significant downturn in sales, with reported drops of up to 76% in certain European markets and 72% in Australia compared to the previous year. This decline highlights a shifting consumer preference away from Tesla and towards other electric vehicle manufacturers. Analysts suggest that this slump can be partially attributed to CEO Elon Musk’s controversial political affiliations, notably his connections with former President Trump. As Tesla's sales falter, the company's stock price has also suffered, contributing to a growing public narrative questioning the brand's viability.
Boycotts and Political Ramifications
The discussion includes parallel comparisons between Tesla's situation and a historical boycott against the Coors Brewery, which was driven by the political views of its owners. Just as the Coors boycott unified diverse groups against perceived injustices, the current anti-Musk sentiment may create coalitions opposing Tesla due to Musk's political actions. The Coors family's political stance led to long-lasting reputational damage, demonstrating how mixing business with politics can have unintended consequences. This raises questions about whether consumer boycotts can effectively change a billionaire’s behavior or merely solidify their positions.
Lessons from the Coors Brewery Saga
The Coors family's experience illustrates that boycotts can lead to significant changes within a company, including improvements in workplace conditions and diversity hiring initiatives. Despite these changes, the family's core political ideologies persisted, showcasing the difficulty of reconciling public perception with entrenched beliefs. Current consumers are left pondering if similar strategies, such as boycotting Tesla, will effect real change or reinforce Musk's business model. The historical context suggests that while boycotts may influence corporate practices, they often struggle to alter foundational political values.
It has not been a good year so far for Elon Musk’s car company Tesla. Stocks are plummeting and sales are falling even faster as people around the world who are opposed to his involvement in the Trump Administration boycott the company.
That’s been accompanied by arson and vandalism at Tesla dealerships around the world. But this isn’t the first time that a company has come under sustained attack for its connections to a Presidential administration.
For three decades, one of America’s biggest beer companies was subject to a boycott because of the conservative views of the family that owned it.
How did that turn out? And what does it tell us about what’s in store for Tesla?
