Tesla CEO Elon Musk gave several media interviews on Tuesday, reaffirming his dedication to Tesla and signaling a reduction in his political spending.
Musk spoke to Bloomberg and CNBC following calls from investors urging him to focus more on Tesla instead of other projects like his involvement with DOGE and politics.
Musk Confirms He Will Remain Tesla CEO for the Next Five Years
During a video interview with Bloomberg’s Mishal Husain at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk was asked if he would still be Tesla’s CEO in five years.
He replied confidently, “Yes,” adding with a hint of humor that he’d only stop if he were dead.
Investor concerns have grown amid Tesla’s recent struggles with rising competition from Chinese automakers such as BYD and declining sales in Europe.
Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives described Tesla as “going through a crisis” that only Musk can fix.
Ives criticized Musk’s focus on DOGE and politics, saying it has turned Tesla into a political symbol, which he called detrimental for the company.
Musk Plans to Scale Back Political Spending
In his interview with Bloomberg, Musk said he will significantly reduce his political spending going forward.
He told Mishal Husain, “I think I’ve done enough,” explaining he currently sees no reason to spend politically but may resume if a compelling reason arises.
Musk’s political contributions last year totaled at least $277 million, primarily supporting former President Donald Trump and other GOP candidates.
Despite this, Trump recently downplayed Musk’s role in his administration, stating he doesn’t really need Musk but likes him personally.
Tesla’s Robotaxis to Be Geo-Fenced and Avoid Risky Intersections
On CNBC, Musk detailed plans for Tesla’s upcoming robotaxi service, which will initially launch in Austin, Texas.
He explained that the autonomous vehicles will be geo-fenced to operate only in the safest parts of Austin.
Musk said, “It’s not going to take intersections unless we are highly confident it’s going to do well with that intersection,” otherwise, the cars will take alternate routes.
He expects the robotaxi fleet in Austin to grow to about 1,000 vehicles within a few months, before expanding to cities like San Francisco and San Antonio.
No Plans for Tesla to Acquire Uber
Musk dismissed the idea of Tesla buying Uber, noting the company already has millions of cars that will operate autonomously.
He also said Tesla owners will be able to add their cars to the autonomous fleet to earn money, creating a hybrid model of Tesla-owned and owner-operated robotaxis.
Earlier, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed openness to collaboration rather than competition, suggesting Tesla cars could operate on Uber’s platform to generate more revenue.
Musk Does Not Rule Out a Tesla and xAI Merger
When asked about a possible merger between Tesla and his AI startup xAI, Musk said “anything is possible” but confirmed there are currently no plans.
Such a merger would require Tesla shareholder approval.
Musk founded xAI in 2023 after leaving OpenAI’s board in 2018.
In March, xAI acquired X (formerly Twitter) in a deal valuing xAI at $80 billion.
Musk has said xAI’s chatbot, Grok, will soon be integrated into Tesla vehicles, allowing users to interact with their cars via voice commands.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s media appearances on Tuesday reinforced his commitment to Tesla’s future and outlined his intent to reduce political involvement.
His focus on developing Tesla’s autonomous robotaxi service and integrating AI technology signals continued innovation despite challenges.
While Musk remains open to new ventures and partnerships, his priority clearly lies with steering Tesla through a competitive and evolving automotive market.