Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Inc., California, United States, has fired Omead Afshar, Vice President of Manufacturing and Operations, following declining car sales in major markets. Afshar previously led key Tesla executives and was under internal investigation related to confidential procurement. His dismissal highlights the ongoing leadership shake-ups and operational pressure within the company.
Tesla Inc., a global electric vehicle and clean energy manufacturer based in California, has removed Omead Afshar, its Vice President of Manufacturing and Operations. The decision was made by CEO Elon Musk, following a consistent drop in car sales in key regions and concerns over Afshar’s previous involvement in confidential internal projects.
Afshar, who reported directly to Musk, oversaw several senior leaders, including Troy Jones (VP, North American Sales), Joe Ward (VP, EMEA Region), and Karen Steakley (Business Development & Policy Head). His leadership role was instrumental in Tesla’s production strategies during a volatile market period.
Earlier, Afshar was investigated internally over the procurement of rare construction materials, including custom glass, for a confidential Musk project. Following this, he was temporarily moved to SpaceX, another Musk-led aerospace and defense firm, before being reinstated and promoted at Tesla.
His termination adds to recent executive exits, including Milan Kovac, former head of Tesla’s humanoid robotics program, who stepped down to prioritize family. Tesla, meanwhile, continues to face declining sales in Europe, intensified competition from Chinese EV makers, and brand challenges related to Musk’s political activities and public endorsements.
Despite his dismissal, Afshar’s social media profile still shows him associated with Tesla. He recently praised Musk on the launch of the Robotaxi pilot program in Austin, Texas, underscoring the complex dynamics of leadership within the company.
