A county pension fund in Pennsylvania just became the first known to cease purchasing new Tesla stocks

Core Viewpoint - Lehigh County has decided to cease purchasing new Tesla stock due to CEO Elon Musk's political activities and the company's declining financial performance [1][2]. Financial Performance - Tesla's earnings have decreased by 71% year-over-year, with auto revenues dropping by 20% and overall profitability significantly declining [3]. - As of May 6, Tesla stock has fallen over 27% since the beginning of 2025, and the company's Q1 revenue missed expectations [9]. Investment Decisions - Lehigh County's pension board, which manages $500 million in assets, voted 4-2 to halt new investments in Tesla and requested a report on options to divest from Tesla [3]. - The New York State legislators have called for the state to divest its$1 billion in Tesla holdings, and a candidate for New York City Comptroller has pledged to remove the city's $300 billion pension portfolio from Tesla if elected [4][5]. Broader Concerns - There is growing concern among various pension funds regarding investments in Tesla, with the Netherlands' largest pension fund selling its$600 million stake and Denmark's AkademikerPension divesting $20 billion in March [7]. - The Tesla Takedown movement is advocating for cities and states to develop resolutions to divest from all entities associated with Musk [8]. Market Perception - Marketing experts have indicated that Tesla has alienated its core customer base, suggesting that rebranding efforts may require significant concessions from Musk [9]. - The dissatisfaction with Musk's leadership is echoed by various stakeholders, including state treasurers and the American Federation of Teachers, who are urging major asset managers to consider divestment [6].