[Click eStock] "Tesla, Brand Crisis... Q1 Earnings Announcement as a Turning Point"

Roadmap for Affordable EVs and Full Self-Driving Is Key
Target Price Set at $550

Hana Securities stated on the 21st that Elon Musk's political activities as CEO of Tesla are weighing on the stock price, and emphasized that clearly presenting this year's roadmap for the launch of an affordable electric vehicle and FSD (Full Self-Driving) will be crucial. They set a target price of $550.

After soaring to a historic high following the election of U.S. President Donald Trump in November last year, Tesla's stock price has plummeted 37.71% from the beginning of the year, giving back all its gains. Seungjin Park, a researcher at Hana Securities, said, "Since President Trump's return to the White House, Musk's actions have turned Tesla into a stock highly sensitive to political issues," adding, "While the impact on the brand was relatively limited initially, it has rapidly expanded to a 'brand tornado crisis' level in recent weeks." He criticized that Musk is focusing solely on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) duties rather than fulfilling his role as Tesla CEO.

Researcher Park noted, "If the current crisis is not resolved, the Tesla brand could face even more severe challenges in the coming years," pointing out that the Q1 earnings report scheduled for early May will be a turning point. He explained, "Various issues such as the current Model Y refresh, increasing inventory, and slowing demand are acting in combination, and Musk's brand risk is also a burden for Tesla," adding, "It is necessary to specifically announce the plan for launching an affordable electric vehicle in 2025 and the schedule for the FSD (Full Self-Driving) launch planned in Austin in June."