Tesla CEO Elon Musk has fired Omead Afshar, the automaker’s vice president of manufacturing and operations, following year-over-year declines in car sales in key markets. Afshar led a team of high-level employees directly reporting to Musk.
The move comes amid Tesla’s struggles with declining stock prices and brand reputation. The company’s stock is down 19% this year, outperforming few peers. Car sales in Europe fell for the fifth consecutive month in May, with customers shifting to European brands and cheaper Chinese electric vehicles.
Afshar was involved in an internal investigation last year over his orders of hard-to-get construction materials, including special glass for a secret project led by Musk. Despite this, Afshar had returned to Tesla after working at SpaceX. His termination follows the resignation of Milan Kovac, head of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robotics program.
Musk has faced criticism for his rhetoric and political activities, which have damaged the brand in recent times. He spent $300 million supporting former US President Donald Trump and led an initiative to slash federal agencies. Afshar also endorsed Germany’s far-right party, sparking controversy. Musk has publicly thanked Kovac for his work, but the latest move suggests a shift in priorities at Tesla.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/26/tesla-head-of-manufacturing-omead-afshar-fired-by-elon-musk.html