'I started to lose customers': A man claims he's lost $70,000 in business contracts because he drives a Cybertruck — but he loves his vehicle. Is Elon Musk's public image fully hurting Tesla?

"I have a dilemma. I started to lose customers because I have [a] Cybertruck," Yoni Menaker wrote in what appears to be a now-deleted Facebook post, as cited by Torque News. "I got some bad reviews, and I am not sure what to do."

Menaker added he loves the vehicle and "it's the best truck" he's ever had.

The name Yoni Menaker is attached to a company called Blue Angels Roofing, which operates in Alabama and Georgia. Some negative online reviews scornfully mention the company's use of a Cybertruck.

It seems Blue Angels Roofing isn't alone. A medical spa owner in Massachusetts told NBC Boston in February he's faced harassment and client cancellations after purchasing a gold-wrapped Cybertruck to promote his business.

Tesla sales and market value tumble

It's not just small business owners facing backlash. Tesla's stock slide from mid-December to late February wiped out more than $650 billion in market value, according to a Barron's report.

While EV sales in the U.S. grew in volume in 2024 — up 7.3% — Tesla's sales fell more than any other manufacturer, according to Cox Automotive. Sales figures in other regions, including Europe and China, have also trended sharply downward. The trend appears to have continued, as Tesla reported its automotive revenue in the first quarter of 2025 plunged 20% from a year earlier, down from $17.4 billion to $14 billion.

Musk has long been polarizing, but his ties with President Donald Trump, his role in the federal government's DOGE cost-cutting department and his erratic social media behavior appear to have led to consumer disruption.

Is it a temporary dip?

Some Tesla owners may be experiencing collateral damage related to frustrations with Musk. The Cybertruck, with its unique design, has become an easy target for vandals.