You're right about this. That's a stupid reason to buy a car, though, and indeed a stupid reason to buy anything.
I don't think either situation is ridiculous.
People have a right to expect reasonable policies from their employers. It should not be "I'm the CEO, I'll do whatever I damn well please and you either take it or leave".
We are not in the 1800's anymore.
No, they don't have this right. What the 'people' might find unreasonable can be, in fact, very reasonable from the point of view of their employers, who quite possibly have far more knowledge about the best way to run an organization. They also have far more responsibilities than workers, the biggest of which is paying the salary. The employee can get away with not doing any work for months, which is relatively easy on remote. Try getting away with not paying salary!
To combat unreasonable policies, people DO have a different right: to quit and find a job they like more.
There is no reason for Musk to say: "come to the office for 40 weeks or I'll fire you" - this is not how employer-employee relations should be in the 21st century.
Also. I do have experience with very adult people who fake productivity working remotely. Some even brag about 'working' remotely for several companies at once, effectively frauding their wage from each.
But hey, you are always welcome to start your own company and run it as you think companies 'should' be run in the 21st century!
If your employees enjoy working for you: glad it’s all working out. If they (secretly) don’t, good luck running your business in a job market with ongoing labor shortage!
You are certainly free to feel however you like about your own purchases, but I have to say, I don't understand it. Either you like the car or you don't. If you do -- great! Drive away. If you don't -- sell it. Don't see what the WFH policy of Tesla has to do with anything.
Tesla employees are adults. They are not trapped by poverty wages. They are professionals. They can leave if they don't like it.
I'm a die-hard WFH'er and also not a CEO. Musk should run his company how he feels best.