DeSantis Weighs In on Electric Truck Wars

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis thinks Ford Motor Co. (F) walking away from F-150 Lightning production is great news for Tesla Inc. (TSLA) and its angular Cybertruck. In a Wednesday post on X, DeSantis argued that Tesla has "a strong following" and the Cybertruck has become a popular customer choice. The kicker? He doesn't think that Tesla loyalty "would transfer to Ford trucks."

It's an interesting take, except for one small problem: the actual sales numbers.

YouTuber Drops Some Sales Reality

Zack Nelson, the YouTuber behind JerryRigEverything, couldn't resist responding. Quoting DeSantis' post, Nelson delivered a sarcastic reality check: the Florida Governor "doesn't know that Ford sold 2X more Electric trucks than Tesla." He also pointed out the irony that the Cybertruck was "less popular" than a canceled truck that was itself "unpopular."

So much for that theory.

Tesla's Rocky Road Gets Rockier

The debate comes at an awkward time for Tesla. The automaker's November sales figures showed a steep 23% decline, reflecting broader struggles in the EV market. Demand has cooled across the U.S. as regulatory headwinds build under President Donald Trump's policies, including relaxed Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards.

Still, some analysts see a silver lining in Ford's retreat from electric vehicles. Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management thinks the pullback could actually benefit Tesla, especially as the company pushes forward with its autonomous taxi ambitions. That's a huge priority for CEO Elon Musk, who's betting big on driverless technology.

California Throws a Wrench in the Works

Tesla's challenges aren't just about sales volume. The company is dealing with a sales license suspension in California after a court ruled that its marketing around Autopilot and full self-driving systems has been deceptive. That's not exactly the momentum you want when you're already watching your sales numbers slide.

The California ruling adds another layer of complexity to Tesla's positioning in the market, particularly as it tries to convince regulators and customers that its autonomous driving technology is ready for prime time.

Price Action: Tesla declined 4.62% to $467.26 at Wednesday's market close, then recovered slightly in after-hours trading, climbing 0.46% to $469.40.