Here's a look at the state of some key Musk businesses. Profits plunged 71% at Tesla in the first three months of the year right after a Chinese competitor claimed the mantle as the world's biggest electric car seller. The big question now: Will Musk's leaving Washington help lure buyers back? The answer is crucial to reviving profits because so much else is uncertain. Tesla's lineup of cars in aging and its foreign rivals have become much more competitive. They would be taking market share from Tesla even in the best of circumstances. Tesla's decision to close down factories as it retooled its best-selling Model Y, among other temporary problems, contributed to its struggles in the first quarter. But the blowback from Musk's time in Washington created doubts for some analysts. In a note to clients, JP Morgan warned of "unprecedented brand damage." And Wedbush Securities said at one point, "This is a full blown crisis."