Tesla & Musk — Tied at the Hip, and the Mouth - CleanTechnica

The article "Tesla & Musk — Tied at the Hip, and the Mouth" by eveee, published on CleanTechnica, explores how Elon Musk’s personal ideology and leadership style have deeply influenced Tesla’s corporate identity and public perception. Musk’s conservative libertarian beliefs, emphasizing individualism and “free speech absolutism,” shape his management approach, which is described as highly centralized, paranoid about losing control, and dismissive of authority, regulation, and employee rights. This founder-driven style, rooted in an Ayn Rand-inspired philosophy, has led Musk to treat Tesla as a small personal venture rather than a mature, large company, hindering its ability to evolve with seasoned leadership. The article highlights how Musk’s personality and political actions have negatively impacted Tesla’s reputation and sales, particularly in Europe. For example, Tesla’s failure in Sweden is attributed to Musk’s disregard for the country’s strong cultural commitment to unions and collective bargaining, which soured public opinion well before controversies in Germany, France, and