Tesla investor survey shows 85% believe Elon Musk's politics are having 'negative' or 'extremely negative' impact on company

More than eight out of every 10 respondents to a Morgan Stanley survey believe Tesla CEO Elon Musk's controversial political activities are hurting his business.

In total, 85% of the 245 participants polled by the firm believe Musk's foray into politics has either had a "negative" or "extremely negative" impact on business fundamentals. The majority of respondents also expect Tesla deliveries to fall this year, according to the survey.

While a small sampling, these results offer the latest sign of mounting frustration with the billionaire entrepreneur as he's become a rising figure in international and American politics. It also comes at a pivotal point for Tesla's stock, with shares plunging nearly 40% this year.

When asked about Musk's efforts with U.S. government efficiency and other political activities, 45% of respondents said these actions had a "negative" effect on the company. Another 40% said they were having an "extremely negative" impact.

On the other hand, 3% said they were "positive" for the business. Meanwhile, 12% called them "insignificant."

To be sure, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas reported that his survey respondents are drawn from his email distribution list and should not be taken as a random representative sample. He also noted that the respondents are not necessarily owners of Tesla stock. The survey was taken over a 17-hour period, starting on Tuesday afternoon.

Jonas also asked about expectations for the company's performance. In a separate question, 59% said they anticipated Tesla would deliver fewer cars to customers in 2025 compared with the prior year. What's more, 21% of total respondents said they expected a decline of more than 10%. That comes as some analysts have raised alarm that recent