The ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), managed by Cathie Wood's ARK Invest, experienced a sharp 8.02% decline during Thursday's trading session. This significant drop comes on the heels of growing concerns surrounding Tesla, one of the fund's major holdings, as the electric vehicle giant grapples with production and delivery challenges.

Tesla, a key component of ARKK, recently reported disappointing first-quarter production and delivery data, producing 26,000 more vehicles than it delivered. This inventory build-up has raised questions about Tesla's near-term growth prospects and market demand for its vehicles. The news has likely contributed to investor unease, despite ARK Invest's Cathie Wood maintaining a bullish long-term outlook on Tesla, with an ambitious $2,600 price target for 2029 based largely on the potential success of Tesla's upcoming Cybercab robotaxi service.

As ARKK is known for its concentrated bets on innovative technology companies, the fund's performance is closely tied to the fortunes of its major holdings like Tesla. The sharp decline underscores the potential volatility and risks associated with thematic ETFs focused on disruptive innovation. Additional factors contributing to the negative sentiment include increased competition in the EV market and potential brand impact from CEO Elon Musk's controversial public persona. This plunge serves as a reminder of the inherent risks in ARKK's strategy of making bold bets on high-growth, potentially disruptive companies.