While the protests are slated to continue, Musk has far more serious problems on his plate. Among the biggest concerns is a huge drop in sales, which can partially be blamed on his politics.

Catching up to Waymo won't be easy because it has partnered with Uber Technologies, which operates the world's largest ride-hailing network with 170 million monthly users. It could take Tesla years to achieve that level of scale, especially if it builds its own mobility network from scratch.

Elon Musk's influence at the White House appeared to wane amid complaints from cabinet members about his approach. He also faced pressure from shareholders worried that his political role was becoming a liability for his companies.

Musk’s work leading DOGE, President Donald Trump’s initiative to slash federal agencies and their resources, is coming to a formal end.

Tesla’s decision to close down factories as it retooled its best-selling Model Y, among other temporary problems, contributed to its struggles in the first quarter. But the blowback from Musk’s time in Washington has some analysts and investors worried.

President Donald Trump is hosting Elon Musk in one final White House press event as the Tesla billionaire concludes his tenure in the Trump administration.The president announced on his TruthSocial platform that the pair would appear together on Friday afternoon.