On Tuesday, Elon Musk stepped back into the spotlight, launching a full-fledged media tour to address swirling questions about his leadership at Tesla, his political involvement, and the highly anticipated rollout of Tesla’s robotaxi service.
In recent months, Musk’s attention has been noticeably divided as he played an active role in the White House’s DOGE initiative. This detour into government affairs has stirred frustration among investors, sparked protests, and coincided with a dip in Tesla’s stock performance. Last month, however, during Tesla’s earnings call, Musk hinted at a shift: he would be scaling back his DOGE involvement to refocus on Tesla.
That renewed focus was evident during Tuesday’s back-to-back interviews with Bloomberg and CNBC. From doubling down on his commitment to Tesla to addressing robotaxi safety concerns, Musk covered a lot of ground. Here are five key insights from his media blitz.
1. Musk Reaffirms His Commitment to Tesla
Beginning his media engagements with Bloomberg’s Mishal Husain at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk confirmed his long-term role as Tesla’s CEO for the next five years. Amid investor concerns about his involvement with the White House’s DOGE office, Musk emphasized his pivotal role in navigating Tesla through current challenges. He acknowledged the need to prioritize Tesla amidst rising competition and diminishing sales.
2. Decreasing Political Spending
Musk revealed his decision to reduce his political spending during his discussion with Husain. While he was a significant supporter of President Donald Trump in the previous election, contributing $277 million, Musk expressed his intention to limit future political contributions unless compelling reasons arise. Trump himself mentioned that while appreciative of Musk’s efforts, he doesn’t necessarily rely on him within the administration.
3. Robotaxi Service Updates
In a conversation with CNBC’s David Faber, Musk addressed the concerns over Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. To ensure safety, Tesla’s robotaxis in Austin will be restricted to specific areas and will bypass potentially hazardous intersections. Musk expressed confidence in launching the service soon, anticipating a fleet of1,000 vehicles within the first few months before expanding further.
4. No Interest in Buying Uber
Musk confidently dismissed the need for Tesla to acquire Uber, highlighting Tesla’s robust fleet of autonomous vehicles as sufficient for future plans. He proposed a model where Tesla owners could earn money by integrating their vehicles into Tesla’s autonomous fleet. Despite Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s openness to collaboration, Musk’s focus remains on maximizing the potential of Tesla’s current assets.
5. Possible Merger with xAI
While a merger with xAI isn’t in immediate plans, Musk didn’t rule out the possibility. With xAI valued at $80 billion following its acquisition of X (formerly Twitter), any merger would require Tesla shareholder approval. Musk remains enthusiastic about integrating xAI’s technologies, such as the Grok chatbot, into Tesla’s systems, promising enhanced user interaction capabilities in the future.
Through his extensive media appearances, Elon Musk reinforced his strategic vision and commitment to innovation, ensuring that Tesla remains at the forefront of the automotive industry
