Tesla is experiencing a period of turmoil, with several high-ranking executives leaving the company in quick succession. The latest to depart is Troy Jones, who served as vice president of sales, service, and delivery in North America for 15 years. Jones’ exit is not clear-cut, however, as his departure follows a pattern set by Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, where heads can roll at any time.
This departure comes during a tumultuous period for the EV brand, which has seen faltering sales and a plummeting stock price. Musk’s polarizing figure has contributed to these issues, with extreme politics surrounding his involvement in the Trump administration.
Other notable departures include Omead Afshar, former vice president of manufacturing and operations, who was fired last month; Milan Kovac, who led Tesla’s humanoid robot division Optimus before leaving just weeks prior to Afshar’s departure; and human resources director Jenna Ferrua. The recent loss of CEO Linda Yaccarino from Musk’s social media platform X has also been reported.
The ex-employees’ departures have raised concerns about the company’s stability, with revenue declining for five consecutive months in Europe and a nine percent drop in US sales in the first quarter of 2025. The stock price has also taken a hit, falling by over 15 percent this year.
Tesla’s struggles can be attributed to multiple factors beyond its image problem. Critics point to an aging vehicle lineup, including the recent Model Y refresh, which failed to inspire customers and led to desperate financing deals. The launch of the robotaxi service in Austin has also not made a convincing case for Musk’s vision of autonomous rides.
The company is facing increased competition from Chinese rivals like BYD, which has taken over as the largest EV company in the world.
Source: https://futurism.com/top-execs-fleeing-tesla