The consumer displeasure is real, and Musk's political allegiances have pushed some buyers to new and different brands. There's evidence of the effect this is having on Tesla's once-spotless brand image, according to new data from S&P Global Mobility, which tracks sales data across the automotive industry.

Elon Musk faces controversy as his tunneling venture, The Boring Company, pushes forward with plans for a 10-mile underground loop in Nashville, despite his repeated promises to focus on Tesla (TSLA) and eliminate political distractions.