New York City | Tesla had a blockbuster 2023, as its shares more than doubled in 12 months. But 2024 is starting on a different note, with Elon Musk’s electric vehicle maker off to its worst start to any year – ever.

The company has lost more than $US94 billion ($141 billion) in market valuation in just the first two weeks of this year. It’s not hard to figure out why, as the Austin, Texas-based EV maker has been pounded by a barrage of negative news: an about-face on EVs from the car rental giant Hertz yet another price cut for its cars made in China, and signs of rising labour costs.

Bloomberg