Welcome back to EV News Daily and a bonus podcast looking at a difficult three days for Tesla, including more showroom protests, a stock market rout and even one of their competitors trolling him on social media.
TESLA STOCK FACES SHARP DECLINE IN 2025
Tesla’s stock dropped 15.4% to $222.15 today, its lowest since the Q3 earnings release on October 23.
Tesla’s collapse today was its biggest drop since September 2020. This decline follows seven weeks of losses, the longest since Tesla joined Nasdaq in 2010.
The shares have fallen 54.5% from a peak of $488.54 on December 18. In 2025, Tesla has seen a 45% decline, making it the worst performer in the S&P 500. In terms of market value, that’s an $800 billion loss since America voted the way Musk wanted. Monday marked the stock’s seventh worst day ever.
During the Q3 earnings call, CEO Elon Musk predicted a 20%-30% increase in deliveries for 2025.
And whilst it was a bad day for tech stocks, Ford was up 0.61%, GM was up 1.35% and Stellantis was up 1.1%. This was not an overall bad day for automotive.
However, deliveries fell last year, and current projections show only a rise compared to 2024. Some analysts expect Tesla’s sales may stay flat or decline. As a result, they have lowered their earnings per share (EPS) forecasts for 2025 and may adjust them further if delivery numbers do not improve soon.
Concerns also surround the profitability of Tesla’s Cybertruck. Although Tesla claimed the Cybertruck was profitable last quarter due to sales of the higher-priced Foundation Series and premium Cyberbeast variant, it may operate at a loss as they shift to selling mainly the dual-motor $79,990 variant.
Elon Musk’s political activities have hurt Tesla’s brand image. Initially thought to benefit from his ties with the White House, it’s now clear they have damaged Tesla’s reputation in both the U.S. and Europe.
Recently, he called Poland’s foreign minister a “small man” and labeled Senator Mark Kelly a “traitor” after Kelly supported continued aid for Ukraine.
Doubts are also growing about Tesla’s robotaxi plans. Musk projected self-driving services would launch in Texas and California by mid-year but unofficial Full Self-Driving (FSD) trackers show that these capabilities are still far from ready.
At the start of 2025, Tesla has seen significant drops in deliveries, especially in China and Europe. While the new Model Y may boost demand, low wait times in the U.S. and China indicate little backlog to sustain high sales long-term.
Ben Kallo, an analyst at Baird, told CNBC that recent vandalism reports could hurt demand. “When people’s cars are in jeopardy of being keyed or set on fire, even supporters of Musk might think twice about buying a Tesla,” Kallo said.
Bank of America analysts noted that Tesla’s new vehicle sales in Europe dropped by 50% in January compared to last year, partly due to growing negative feelings towards the brand.
WEEKEND OF VIOLENCE AGAINST TESLA IN OREGON, COLORADO AND NYC
On Saturday, police reported the arrest of six people at a Tesla showroom in Manhattan. A video on social media showed officers removing a protester from the Washington Street location, damaging the showroom’s glass entrance.
Images from the event show an officer holding a protester’s shoulders and another person being pulled out by his jacket. Footage also captured women wearing masks and linking arms in front of the Tesla building.
Authorities issued five trespassing citations to the protesters. The sixth person received a Desk Appearance Ticket for resisting arrest, obstructing government administration, and violating a local ordinance.
Also, Loveland police found an incendiary device that started a fire at a Tesla dealership early Friday morning. This marks the fifth arson and vandalism incident at this northern Colorado location this year.
Officers arrived at 1606 N. Lincoln Ave. and discovered that the device, placed between two vehicles, ignited the fire, putting several people in danger. They also found evidence of rocks being thrown at the building and multiple vehicles.
A cleaning crew was inside during this incident, which is the fifth act of vandalism or arson at this location, following events on January 29, February 2, February 7, and February 24.
Investigators do not link this arson to Lucy Grace Nelson, 40, who is accused of using Molotov cocktails and spray-painting “Nazi cars” on the dealership.
The current arson case is still under investigation.
To Tigard, Oregon next, where Tesla staff found gunfire damage early Thursday morning. Surveillance footage showed that one or more people fired several rounds around 1:46 a.m., according to police.
Authorities confirmed that at least seven bullets were fired, damaging three vehicles and breaking windows. Tigard police stated, “One bullet went through an office wall and into a computer monitor.” They added, “Fortunately, this happened overnight when the property was unoccupied.”
Law enforcement has not identified the suspect or suspects involved.
And finally, an Oregon man was arrested for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla service center. Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, faces charges for illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device after two attacks on a Salem dealership this year, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
The Salem service center was attacked on January 20 when police were alerted about people throwing incendiary devices at Tesla vehicles. Officers found multiple fires, including one car fully engulfed in flames. A witness saw someone light an object and throw it at a red Tesla SUV before tossing another device into the showroom window. Authorities described the Molotov cocktails as glass wine bottles filled with flammable liquid and wrapped in cloth.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed the suspect with an AR-15 style rifle with a suppressor, aiming it at a witness as they fled. The suspect threw more incendiary devices at two other vehicles before leaving, damaging seven Teslas and destroying one. The general manager estimated damages at $500,000.
A second attack occurred on February 19 when Lansky allegedly fired multiple shots at the dealership early in the morning. A security guard did not hear the gunshots, indicating a suppressor was used. Investigators identified Lansky by matching his fingerprints from the incendiary devices and checking his firearm registration.
https://evne.ws/4iez9fn
TRANSPORT CANADA PROBES TESLA REBATE CLAIMS
Transport Canada is investigating Tesla after a sharp rise in rebate applications during the last days of Canada’s electric vehicle (EV) incentive program. A Tesla dealership in Quebec reportedly submitted rebate requests for about 4,000 vehicles over one weekend, far exceeding its delivery capacity.
In January, the Canadian government announced that funding for its EV incentive program, which offered up to $5,000 for EV purchases, was running out faster than expected. Originally set to end in March, the program was cut short to the end of January, leading to a rush in vehicle deliveries to qualify for the incentive. Tesla, as the top EV brand in Canada, saw the largest increase in rebate applications during this time.
According to the Toronto Star, four Tesla locations filed for a total of 8,653 rebates in the last three days of the program, totaling $43.1 million. This is more than half of the remaining $71.8 million available. Specifically, Tesla’s Quebec City location filed over 2,500 rebates in one day and 4,000 over that weekend. Since this dealership can only handle a few hundred cars at once and rebates are filed upon delivery, these numbers raise doubts about actual deliveries by Tesla.
The spike in rebate filings has left other dealerships without access to rebates. The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) found that dealers are stuck with 2,295 unreimbursed rebates worth around $10 million. CADA spokesperson Huw Williams said, “These dealers in good faith gave customers the money for a program that is always refunded.” CADA has urged Ottawa and highlighted this issue through the Toronto Star.
In response to CADA’s report, Transport Canada stated it finds it “unacceptable” and has asked for detailed information from those managing the program. Williams accused Tesla of manipulating the system. Terry Budd, owner of eight dealerships in Ontario, expressed doubt about Tesla’s delivery numbers: “There’s no way they delivered or sold that many cars in a weekend.”
Canadian dealers are waiting for reimbursement for about 2,000 EVs they have delivered. While Tesla is expected to lead vehicle deliveries during this rush and can manage typical end-of-quarter surges, claims of 2,500 vehicles delivered in one day and 4,000 over a weekend at one location remain questionable. It’s possible that Tesla delivered more vehicles recently and submitted large batches of rebates; however, this still raises concerns.
Canadian officials are investigating how Tesla achieved such high sales without raising alarms.
Williams suggested, “Tesla had a run on the bank. Somehow, Tesla gamed the system.” Transport Canada stated there are no rules against Tesla submitting rebate applications in bulk after vehicle deliveries, though questions remain about how this occurred.
KIA APPEALS TO TESLA CRITICS WITH NEW EV3 CAMPAIGN
Kia has launched a marketing campaign for its new electric vehicle, the EV3, featuring a bumper sticker that says, “I bought this after Elon went crazy.” This campaign started earlier this month on social media and in Norwegian print media, aiming at former Tesla customers amid growing criticism of Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk.
In January, Kia announced that its electric vehicle owners in North America will access Tesla Superchargers starting March 2025. The EV6 and EV9 models will also gain access early next year through NACS to CCS1 adapters.
Launched in Europe last November, the EV3 offers a range of up to 375 miles (603 kilometers) per charge and starts at €36,000 ($39,000) in Germany. Online marketplaces like Amazon are seeing increased demand for stickers with slogans like “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy” and “Anti-Elon Tesla Club.”
UK HALTS TESLA’S SELF-DRIVING SOFTWARE LAUNCH
British authorities have blocked Tesla’s rollout of its self-driving car software, limiting key features and possibly increasing tensions with Elon Musk. Documents obtained by The Telegraph show that the Department for Transport (DfT) has hindered efforts to legalize advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) across Europe. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is leading the automotive industry’s shift towards automation.
Tesla’s top European lobbyist left the company in October, criticizing the slow approval process that could delay technology rollout in Europe until 2028, even though it launched in the U.S. in 2020. Minutes from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) show DfT officials doubted approving comprehensive driver assistance systems. Initial proposals would have allowed vehicles to change lanes, turn at intersections, and stop at traffic lights without driver input.
However, these plans were reduced to only allow “highway” maneuvers like lane changes and required drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. In September, UK officials stated, “Introducing system-initiated manoeuvres is a significant step which entails a degree of unknown… it may also introduce new safety risks.” They suggested a phased introduction of this technology.
In January, officials from the UK, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands asked for more evidence on driver assistance systems’ safety while recognizing their potential benefits but expressing concerns about their impact on driver behavior and overall safety. As a result, only a basic version of systems like Tesla’s FSD is expected in the UK and Europe within a year.
Marc Van Impe, Tesla’s former head of safety policy who handled these discussions, left for SpaceX in October due to frustrations with the slow process affecting Europe’s competitiveness. Since 2016, Tesla has offered “full self-driving capability” as an optional upgrade priced at £6,800 in the UK; however, it remains non-functional.
Tesla aimed to launch FSD features in Europe by early 2025 but Musk recently admitted this timeline is unlikely. He told investors in January that “Europe is a layer cake of regulations,” expressing doubt about releasing the system this year.
https://evne.ws/43zQZ89