As Elon Musk focuses on SpaceX's ambitions, from placing data centers in space to sending humans to Mars, and pushing the rocket company towards a record initial public offering (IPO), Park has grown concerned that Musk's attention is shifting away from Tesla.

The electric vehicle company is restructuring to focus on humanoid robots and artificial intelligence—a significant shift from the consumer technology segment that initially drew him to the company.

"We really, really want Musk to focus more on Tesla", Park said. His previous belief in the brand even led him to borrow money to buy Tesla shares.

Tesla Cybertrucks outside SpaceX's production facility in Texas in July. Photo: Reuters

Park is among a group of loyal Tesla investors whose patience with the company and its leader is being tested. Once considered a "jewel" in Musk's empire, Tesla's stock has declined, falling more than 20% since the start of 2026.

"Tesla investors are confused, and some feel betrayed", said Bradford Ferguson, founder of the investment group Rebellionaire. "Tesla appears to be a secondary concern for Musk".

Tesla initially captivated early customers with its sleek, high-performance vehicles and a climate-focused mission. Now, the company has entered a new era, emphasizing infrastructure and reorienting around two service-oriented products: the Optimus humanoid robot and the Cybercab autonomous vehicle.

These products deviate from Tesla's traditional market, aiming to attract customers in industrial manufacturing and ride-hailing services, in addition to its previous tech-enthusiast base. The company's new mission is to "build a world of abundant prosperity".

Tesla reported a year-over-year profit decline in the last quarter, despite a 26% surge in revenue, a sharp contrast to its historically stable and profitable automotive business.

Musk and Tesla did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Elon Musk attends the Viva Technology event for innovation and startups in France, 16/6/2023. Photo: Reuters

The challenges Tesla faces reflect the broader difficulties many companies encounter in the artificial intelligence era, where expensive computer component costs erode profits, forcing investors to bet on long-term goals without clear, immediate results.

For some investors, the long-term product roadmap Musk outlined for Tesla seems like an overly ambitious fantasy: producing one billion Optimus humanoid robots, contributing to building the world's largest chip factory, and transforming millions of vehicles into fully autonomous vehicles to create a massive "Robotaxi" network transporting passengers globally.

"This is no longer a startup", shared Park, who manages the tens of millions of USD TESL fund specializing in Tesla investments. "When you are a company worth over one trillion USD, or close to it, you need to have realistic goals", Park stated.

"I no longer trust management's comments", Matt Smith, Ferguson's associate at Rebellionaire, recently wrote on X. "Too many empty promises and missed deadlines".

However, not everyone is pessimistic. Gene Munster, Chief Executive Officer of Deepwater Asset Management, believes that while some investors still support Tesla's vision, they are demanding more tangible results. "Overall, faith in the company remains very strong", he commented.

The emergence of these criticisms marks a clear shift from a group that typically readily accepted and supported Musk's vision.

Ross Gerber, a SpaceX investor and a frequent critic of Musk's management of his companies in recent years, found it amusing to witness the shift in attitude from investors who were once very optimistic about Tesla. "I think the 'fan club' is unhappy", Gerber said.

Hoang Lan (According to Washington Post, Reuters)