Tesla fires VP of manufacturing Omead Afshar amid declining EV sales

Published: Friday, June 27, 2025 at 10:03 am

**Tesla Fires Manufacturing VP Amidst Sales Decline**

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has terminated Omead Afshar, the company's Vice President of Manufacturing and Operations, amidst a downturn in electric vehicle (EV) sales. The firing, first reported by Bloomberg News, comes as Tesla faces challenges in key markets. Afshar's responsibilities included overseeing several high-level executives, such as the Vice Presidents of Sales in North America and the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.

This is the second high-level departure from Tesla recently. Milan Kovac, the head of the Optimus humanoid robotics program, resigned earlier, citing a desire to spend more time with family. Musk publicly acknowledged Kovac's contributions.

Afshar's departure follows an internal investigation in 2022 regarding his involvement in securing construction materials for a secret project for Musk. Prior to his role at Tesla, Afshar worked at SpaceX, another company founded by Musk. Afshar's X account, which has not been updated, still lists him as working for Tesla, and he previously praised Musk's leadership.

Tesla's stock price has experienced a 19% decline this year. The company's sales figures for 2024 are lower than those of 2023, marking the first sales drop since the company began mass-producing EVs. Profits plummeted by 71% in the first quarter of 2025. European sales have also declined, dropping by 28% and experiencing a fifth consecutive month of decline in May. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association attributes this shift to consumers opting for more affordable Chinese EV models.

BNN's Perspective: The recent executive shakeup and sales decline at Tesla raise concerns about the company's current trajectory. While the EV market is competitive, Tesla's brand recognition and technological advancements still position it as a major player. The company needs to address the factors contributing to the sales slump, including market competition and economic conditions, to regain its momentum.

Keywords: Tesla, Elon Musk, Omead Afshar, EV sales, manufacturing, sales decline, stock price, European sales, electric vehicles, automotive industry, company performance, executive departures, market competition.

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