Stifel analysts lowered their price target for Tesla stock in response to “the negative downturn in consumers' perception of Elon Musk,” whose role with DOGE has riled some.

In January, sales of Tesla cars slumped across five European countries – the UK, France, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands. Sales were down too in California – the US state with the largest car market. And according to at least one survey, Musk and his politics could be a significant part of the problem.