Tesla TSLA has been under increasing scrutiny, and Ross Gerber isn't staying quiet. The CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management voiced strong concerns in a recent Bloomberg interview, criticizing both Tesla's performance and its leadership.
"Nobody's Made Any Money in Tesla For a Long Time"
Gerber says he still owns Tesla stock for clients, but he's frustrated by its direction.
"Tesla stock is down 40% this year," he said. "The performance is, I think, directly related to the CEO [Elon Musk] not working at the company and his outside activities. I don’t like Elon. It’s personal; the way he does things. That’s true, and I don’t align with him morally, but that is irrelevant of my investment in Tesla.”
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He also added that nobody’s made any money in Tesla for a long time.
He believes Musk's political activity and shifting focus away from Tesla have hurt the brand and driven away customers. "You'd have to be blind not to see that Elon's behavior is highly political and highly damaging to the brand," he told Bloomberg.
"I'm Getting Attacked Because of Elon's Behavior"
Gerber says the backlash he's received for voicing concerns is misdirected.
"I understand why retail investors at Tesla are frustrated with me," he told Bloomberg. "I find it horrible the fact that people are worried about having their vehicles vandalized, including me, because of Elon. I'm actually really getting attacked because of Elon's behavior."
He added that the company has failed to effectively promote its new offerings. He called the upgraded Model Y "way better than the old one" and questioned why Tesla isn't advertising it properly.
Concerns Over Leadership And The Board
Gerber's criticism extends beyond Musk. He's taken aim at Tesla's board of directors, calling them negligent. "The board is 100% responsible," he posted on X earlier this month.
He also criticized Chair Robyn Denholm, accusing her of failing to represent shareholders and acting in Musk's interest alone. Gerber believes the company needs stronger governance to protect its long-term future.
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Still Wants Tesla to Succeed
Despite the frustration, Gerber told Bloomberg he's still rooting for the company. "I want to see Tesla succeed. That's the whole purpose of why I say these things and get criticized," he said. "I am emotional about it because I love Tesla."
He also emphasized his commitment to climate action, saying Tesla remains a critical player in the push for sustainable energy. But he warned that unless leadership and messaging improve, the brand might struggle to recover.
"Tesla needed to work to separate itself from Elon," he said. "Now it might be too late."
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