Elon Musk Fires Tesla Sales Exec

Omead Afshar’s Departure from Tesla

Omead Afshar, Tesla’s Vice President overseeing sales and manufacturing operations in North America and Europe, has reportedly been terminated by CEO Elon Musk, as reported by Forbes.

The reasons behind Musk’s decision to dismiss Afshar remain currently unknown. Afshar was considered a key lieutenant and close advisor to Musk within the company.

Neither Afshar, Musk, nor Tesla have responded to requests for statements regarding this matter. Initial reports of Afshar’s exit were published by Bloomberg News.

Recent Activities and Sales Performance

As recently as Tuesday, Afshar publicly expressed support for the initial limited launch of Tesla’s robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. He posted on X, the social media platform owned by his former employer, calling it an “Absolutely historic day for Tesla” and thanking Elon Musk for his leadership.

This personnel change occurs during a period of stalled sales growth for Tesla. For the first time in over a decade, since the commencement of mass EV production, Tesla’s sales figures for 2024 are lower than those of 2023.

Political Involvement and Financial Results

Musk’s engagement in U.S. political affairs has potentially contributed to these challenges, despite a recent statement indicating a withdrawal from supporting the Trump administration.

Sales figures have continued to struggle throughout the first half of 2025. The company’s profits, previously industry-leading, experienced a significant 71% decrease year-over-year during the first quarter.

Furthermore, European sales declined by nearly 28% year-over-year in May. Tesla is scheduled to release its global delivery numbers for the second quarter next week, with full financial results expected in mid-July.

Afshar’s Tenure and Previous Roles

Afshar maintained a relatively low public profile during his time at Tesla. He initially joined the company in 2017, beginning his work within the “office of the CEO.”

Over the years, he progressively assumed greater responsibilities. Musk has previously acknowledged Afshar’s pivotal role in overseeing the construction of Tesla’s large-scale factory in Austin, Texas.

However, Afshar later faced scrutiny. In 2022, he became the subject of an internal investigation concerning an alleged scheme to procure specialized materials for a glass structure desired by Musk.

This led to investigations by both the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2023.

Recent Role Changes and Additional Departure

During this period, Afshar briefly transitioned to SpaceX and was reportedly involved with X. Musk then promoted him to the position of Vice President in late 2024, following the relocation of another executive, Tom Zhu, back to China.

Bloomberg News also reported on Thursday that Jenna Ferrua, Tesla’s Director of HR for North America, is no longer with the company. She has not yet responded to requests for comment.