Elon Musk has long been the linchpin of Tesla's appeal, commanding unbelievable hype that has elevated the automaker to a stellar stock position while giving it cultural staying power. But the marriage is getting ugly.

Musk has repeatedly stated that Tesla’s long-term value lies in autonomous driving and robotics, but its investors don't seem so sure. With sales declining and investor confidence wavering, the immediate question remains: does Musk still care about selling cars, or has he already moved on?

Tae Helton, a car aficionado who lives minutes from Tesla Inc.’s flagship California factory, bought one Tesla for the family fleet and nearly purchased a second one last year.After Elon Musk made gestures resembling a Nazi salute at an inauguration event for President Donald Trump last month,