Tesla’s head of the Cybertruck program, Siddhant Awasthi, has announced his departure after more than eight years with the electric vehicle maker, marking the latest high-profile exit from Elon Musk’s sprawling business empire. Awasthi played a critical role in steering the Cybertruck from concept to production and had recently taken over leadership of the Model 3 program.
Awasthi began at Tesla as an intern and rose through the ranks to oversee one of the company’s most ambitious projects. His responsibilities included product strategy, supply chain management, and quality improvements—essential functions for launching the long-delayed Cybertruck. In a farewell message posted on LinkedIn, Awasthi reflected on his time at Tesla, calling it an “honor” to bring the Cybertruck to life.
His resignation adds to a growing list of executive departures at Tesla and other Musk-led ventures. Over the past year, Tesla has lost key personnel from its U.S. sales team, battery operations, public affairs division, and IT department. Musk’s AI startup, xAI, has also been hit by internal turmoil, with its CFO, general counsel, co-founder, and chief engineer all exiting within weeks of one another.
The timing of Awasthi’s departure raises questions about the future of the Cybertruck, which has struggled to gain traction since its launch. Despite a boost in Tesla’s Q3 deliveries due to expiring federal tax credits, analysts expect a sharp sales drop in Q4. The Cybertruck has also faced mounting challenges—including sluggish sales, massive inventory discounts, and ten separate recalls in just two years.
Tesla disclosed that over 46,000 Cybertrucks had been produced between its November 2023 debut and early 2025. Yet, persistent quality issues and declining demand continue to plague the product’s rollout.
The ongoing talent drain could have long-term implications for Tesla’s operational stability and its competitive position in the EV market. With turnover affecting both cutting-edge programs like AI and flagship vehicles like the Cybertruck, questions are mounting over whether Elon Musk can maintain momentum while his companies face growing internal instability.
