Elon Musk, the world's richest man, notes that Tesla's sales have declined particularly in Europe, but adds that "it's true for all car manufacturers."
Tesla stock rises
The statements by the controversial entrepreneur – who has been moonlighting for President Donald Trump as the head of a unit in the White House for public spending cuts since January – are made at an economic forum in Qatar, which Musk participates in from Texas via video link.
Tesla stock rises by around 4 percent in the initial trading on Wall Street as Musk appears. This means that the price drop so far this year for Tesla has been reduced to around 12 percent.
Musk says he spends around a couple of days a week in Washington DC.
I travel a lot, he says and tells that he was in California on Monday and in Texas on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, he plans to travel to Washington DC for a meeting with Trump.
Yes, Musk answers to the question of whether he will be for Tesla in five years.
Well, not if I were to die, he adds.
He laughs when he says it, but also tells about receiving death threats.
I have never harmed anyone, he says and adds that those behind the threats will be imprisoned.
That's what they deserve.
He adds that he is disappointed in how some media have "justified" vandalism and protests directed at Tesla.
Shameful!
According to the Tesla chief, it is primarily in Europe where the trend is weak for the electric car manufacturer, while the development is strong on other markets.
"What must be done"
Musk says further that he takes the setbacks for Tesla as personal setbacks, but that he does not regret his political commitment to the Trump administration.
I did what had to be done, he says.
He dismisses a critical question about not having succeeded in achieving the public spending cuts of 2,000 billion dollars as promised when he took office.
Did you think it would happen immediately, he says.
He tones down his own role in the Trump administration's major spending cut project:
I'm just an advisor, simply. I have no formal power. That's how it is. The President can choose to follow my advice or not.
