This was my first thought upon hearing his comment that the model X was too expensive. It just makes no sense. This manipulation feels so blatant that I wonder if Tesla should dissociate with them if they have to do any future capital raises. It's one thing to change your price target, but calling the model X too expensive makes absolutely no sense. If Tesla can sell the vehicles for a higher price, and prioritize the higher ASP sales, that is exactly what investors want. It just reeks of manipulation, helping your clients get in cheaper. I don't think that is why we have analysts, to make pie in the sky valuations when on the sell-side, and then pile on when the stock is weak to buy back in cheap, or so that your clients can buy cheaper.
The biggest risk to those comments is that some reservation holders start to wonder if it really is too expensive and decide to defer to cheaper models available later. In other words, those comments may not be end up being just a bear trap, they might actually damage the company financially. That, in combination with what feels like manipulation, is why I find those comments so offensive.
Agreed.