Tesla’s Retail Investor Divide Contrasts With European Sales Slump

Tesla shares edged down 0.5% to $339.34 amid polarized sentiment among retail traders. A Stocktwits survey reveals exactly half of respondents maintain long positions betting on Elon Musk’s leadership, while 22% are exiting over concerns about the CEO’s erratic behavior.

The automaker’s European troubles deepened in April with sales collapsing 49% year-over-year - a stark contrast to the region’s 27.8% overall EV market growth. Tesla’s market share halved to just 0.7% as its Model Y refresh failed to stimulate demand.

First-quarter financials showed alarming declines, with automotive revenue dropping 20% and net income plummeting 71%. The divergence between retail trader Optimism and fundamental deterioration presents a classic case of narrative versus reality in markets.