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.

Tesla Inc. co-founder Elon Musk urged a Delaware judge to toss an investor lawsuit alleging he improperly sold more than $7.5 billion in shares after receiving inside information that the electric-car maker would miss its production and delivery targets in 2022.