Former Stellantis CEO Predicts Tesla May Exit Car Industry Within 10 Years
Carlos Tavares, former CEO of Stellantis, has cast doubt on Tesla's future in the automotive sector. In a candid interview with Les Echos, Tavares suggested Elon Musk might abandon car manufacturing to prioritize robotics, SpaceX, or artificial intelligence. "We can’t rule out that at some point, he’ll decide to leave the automotive industry," Tavares remarked, highlighting Musk's divergent ventures.
Chinese automaker BYD emerges as a formidable competitor, having overtaken Tesla in global EV sales earlier this year. Tesla's market share in China has plummeted from 16% in 2020 to just 5% today. Tavares attributes this decline to BYD's superior efficiency and cost-effectiveness, warning of "colossal" stock market losses for Tesla.
Financial pressures mount as Tesla reports its fourth consecutive earnings miss despite record sales. Aggressive price cuts, $400 million in new tariffs, and the elimination of U.S. EV tax credits have eroded margins. Shareholders will vote November 6 on a proposed $1 trillion pay package designed to retain Musk's focus.