Tesla Inc. Chair Robyn Denholm declined to answer multiple questions regarding CEO Elon Musk’s political affiliations, time commitment to Tesla, and the company’s declining performance during a public appearance in Melbourne recently. Tesla missed its Q1 delivery target by approximately 60,000 units.
Denholm was in Australia to deliver a keynote address at a financial services conference, where she spoke about Australia’s investment in research and development. She was listed on the program as a Tesla executive and is currently leading an R&D review for the Australian government.
When approached by reporters, Denholm did not respond to inquiries about whether Musk’s political activities or his views on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives were affecting Tesla. She also declined to comment on whether Musk has enough time to manage the automaker, given his involvement with SpaceX, social media platform X, and the Department of Government Efficiency under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Public scrutiny over Musk’s proximity to the U.S. government has intensified, with protests targeting Tesla showrooms and infrastructure in North America and Europe. Musk’s dual roles and political endorsements, including support for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, have drawn additional criticism. He was also seen making gestures resembling a Nazi salute during a recent political event.
Tesla’s vehicle sales and shipments have declined in key markets, including Europe and China. The company’s stock, which peaked near $480 in December, dropped by over 50% before a recent rebound of 12% during a broader technology rally. Analysts have raised concerns about Tesla’s direction and Musk’s involvement. Wedbush Securities’ Daniel Ives, typically bullish on Tesla, recently described the situation as a crisis that Musk alone can address and urged the board to take action.
Denholm, who is based in Sydney, rarely speaks publicly about Tesla and has not provided detailed commentary on Musk’s leadership. In a U.S. court ruling last year, she was found to lack independence from Tesla’s board due to the financial benefits she has received. Denholm earned $280 million through Tesla stock options in 2021 and 2022.
During Tuesday’s event, Denholm also did not respond to a question about whether she has considered resigning as Tesla chair. The conference may be her final public appearance as chair of the Tech Council of Australia, a position she is set to hand over to Atlassian Corp. co-founder Scott Farquhar by the end of March.
The Tech Council recently announced an initiative to promote gender equity and inclusion in the technology industry. Musk, in contrast, has repeatedly criticized DEI policies, referring to them as “another word for racism” and sharing content on X that blames DEI efforts for various unrelated issues.
Updated (9:45 AM EST, 04/02/2025): Added information about Tesla’s Q1 numbers.
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