Tesla has lost another top executive as Omead Afshar, a longtime Elon Musk confidant and key leader in global sales and production, has officially exited the company. Afshar, who played a pivotal role in building the Texas Gigafactory and overseeing operations in Europe and North America, is the latest in a growing list of high-ranking departures. His exit comes as Tesla continues to battle slowing EV demand, especially in markets like Europe, where Musk’s political affiliations have created friction with some buyers.

Afshar's departure underscores a challenging chapter for Tesla. After slashing thousands of jobs and refocusing on autonomous driving and robotics, the company has seen a sharp decline in morale and leadership continuity. Tesla has already seen exits from CFO Zach Kirkhorn, battery chief Drew Baglino, and Supercharger lead Rebecca Tinucci. Meanwhile, its stock remains down 19% for the year, and analysts predict 2025 could mark the first time Tesla reports a year-over-year decline in global deliveries.

Despite these headwinds, Tesla is pressing forward with its self-driving ambitions, recently launching a pilot fleet of robotaxis in Austin. Still, skepticism around safety and scale continues to shadow Musk’s vision. As Afshar moves on and restructuring deepens, all eyes are on whether Tesla can steady its course and rebuild leadership during one of its most pivotal phases to date.