"Every brilliant idiot eventually flies too close to their own sun." - Futurist Jim Carroll
In its most recent earnings call, Tesla essentially announced that it was giving up on the automotive industry.
The facts are pretty raw as sales plummeted with buyers turning away around the world:
Tesla reported its first-ever year-over-year revenue drop, with net income plunging 61% and automotive revenue falling 11%.
The Model S and Model X are being cancelled, leaving only the Model 3,
Model Y, and Cybertruck in production
The Cybertruck itself is a dismal failure, a bright silver MAGA-mobile screaming out its association with the insanity of the owner
Every country in the world saw a decrease in sales of Tesla vehicles because of Musk's involvement with a hated political brand, and none-too-subtle support of Nazi causes
Instead of designing new models, the company is making a massive bet on two-person autonomous vehicles with no steering wheels or brakes
The company plans to sink $20 billion into AI efforts, including a controversial $2 billion investment into Elon Musk’s separate xAI venture that might draw SEC attention
This is what happens when you link a once-powerful brand to a toxic message; a once-revered founder becomes erratic and hateful; and a once innovation-rich organization becomes bled dry of its creative engine.
The response online is interesting, to say the least.
To start, the 'Tesla fan boys, 'as they are known, bought in, despite the negative financial results and cuts, Tesla stock surged $13 per share in after-hours trading. Those who worship at the Altar of Elon are agog with joy as he spells his dreams of selling a million humanoid robots within a year, millions of autonomous robotaxis, and other wild dreams of tomorrow. They've bought into his bold claims that the robots it is pivoting to will do surgeries within 3 years, fold your laundry, take care of senior citizens, and much more.
Grandiose bullshit, to say the least. Many of us have been here before.
But here's what's interesting - you now see a LOT of diehard Musk fans finally throwing in the towel, realizing that it's game over for what was once the world's greatest mass-market automotive wonder.
Reading the chatter, it's evident that many are finally becoming tired of his litany of lies.
Of course, none of this comes as a surprise to those of us who saw through the deceit, the madness, and the lies of Musk years ago.
---
Futurist Jim Carroll took a test drive in a Rivian the other day.
**#Hubris** **#Leadership** **#Tesla** **#Brand** **#Failure** **#Reputation** **#Innovation** **#Decline** **#Arrogance** **#Downfall** **#Toxicity** **#Strategy** **#Warning** **#Business** **#Collapse** **#Trust** **#Consequences** **#Electric** **#Automotive** **#Future** **#Reality** **#Ego** **#Icarus** **#Lessons** **#Onwards**
Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/01/decoding-tomorrow-daily-inspiration-every-brilliant-idiot-eventually-flies-too-close-to-their-own-sun/