Elon Musk to Remain Tesla CEO 'Unless I Die'

In a video call this week, the Tesla CEO announced he plans to lead Tesla for at least five more years.

Photo by: YouTube

By: Kyle Kinard

May 21, 2025 at 4:30pm ET

Comment

Elon Musk is here to stay. At least, that's according to Elon Musk, who gave an interview to those gathered for the Qatar Economic Forum this week. During the 40-minute interview (below), Elon said he'll remain Tesla CEO for at least five more years, "Unless I die. Let me see if I'm dead," he joked.

The line got a laugh from the audience, but it was a bold, assertive claim for Musk to make as Tesla sales of the pioneering EV brand flag across the globe.

Responding to Tesla's Sales Slump

Bloomberg journalist Mishal Husain led the interview and pressed Musk straightaway, asking if his role in the American government—which eats up one to two days per week, Musk says—would prevent Tesla from turning the tides of its sales slump.

Musk responded curtly "Oh it's already turned around," he said. "Europe is our weakest market, we're strong everywhere else."

Our colleagues at InsideEVs have covered Tesla sales extensively. Their reporting points to an increase in US EV sales while Tesla slumped nine percent for the first quarter of 2025, mirroring the drop in European sales alluded to during this interview, as well as cratering used values, and a state of general panic among Tesla's board and investors.

Musk On His Politics

Of course, the topic of politics arose throughout the interview. A bewildered Musk insisted that Tesla's losses with left-leaning buyers were perhaps evened out by purchases by those on the American political right.

"There are also people who are buying [our cars] because Elon's crazy or however they may view it," he said. "So, yes, we've lost some sales perhaps on the left, but we've gained them on the right. The sales numbers at this point are strong and we see no problem with demand."

Tell us what you think!

View

Comments

Musk did note political blowback had affected Tesla sales, however, and that he would step back from political duties, but remain tight control over Tesla itself. Inevitably the conversation shifted toward building (potentially) billions of Tesla humanoid robots, because of course it did.

Elon Retains Control of Tesla

Again Musk claimed to curb government involvement in the near future, including political spending which caused much of the blowback to Tesla, in turn affecting company sales.

Can Tesla dig itself out of an increasingly competitive global EV market following nosediving sales and the intense PR hit Tesla has taken over the past year? We'll certainly find out, and with protections in place to keep the throne from being upset, Musk will lead the way.