Executive Exodus: Tesla's Cybertruck Chief Departs Amidst Sales and Incentive Headwinds

Tesla is undergoing another leadership transition as Siddhant Awasthi, the executive who led the company’s Cybertruck program, announced his departure on Sunday after spending more than eight years with the automaker. His exit comes at a time when Tesla is contending with slower demand for the Cybertruck and a potential decline in overall vehicle deliveries, following the expiration of major U.S. consumer tax incentives.

Awasthi’s career at Tesla reflects the company’s pattern of developing leaders internally. He joined the automaker as an intern and steadily rose through the ranks. Over the years, he contributed to several high-impact initiatives, including the Model 3 launch, the establishment of Gigafactory Shanghai, and the design of advanced electronic and wireless systems.

After beginning as a fresh graduate in 2018, Awasthi advanced to senior technical program manager within three years, overseeing the Cybertruck’s 48-volt electrical platform. In late 2022, he became head of the Cybertruck program, responsible for its production, engineering strategy, quality, and supply chain operations. By mid-2024, he had also taken on leadership responsibilities for the Model 3 line.

In a farewell message shared on social media, Awasthi reflected on his journey, writing: “Eight years ago, when I started as an intern, I never dreamed I'd one day have the opportunity to lead the Cybertruck program and bring it to reality.” He described the experience as a “thrilling journey” and thanked Elon Musk and other mentors for their guidance and influence.

The change in leadership coincides with an uncertain sales outlook for Tesla. The company posted record deliveries in the third quarter, a performance largely boosted by buyers seeking to qualify for a $7,500 federal EV tax credit that ended on September 30. Analysts now forecast a slowdown in the final quarter of the year as the incentive’s expiration affects demand.

Meanwhile, the Cybertruck has faced market challenges, leading Tesla to introduce discounts on unsold inventory in recent months. A U.S. recall filing from March showed that roughly 46,000 Cybertrucks had been built since the model’s November 2023 debut. Despite this production figure, actual sales remain below Tesla’s initial goal of 250,000 units per year, with industry reports estimating closer to 25,000 annual sales.

Awasthi’s departure follows several rounds of layoffs and organizational restructuring within Tesla’s vehicle programs. The shift underscores the ongoing volatility in the EV sector, where sales momentum often depends on government incentives and consumer enthusiasm for new technology.