Tesla's Cybertruck head steps down after eight years

Siddhant Awasthi, head of Tesla’s Cybertruck program, is leaving the company after more than eight years.

Awasthi joined Tesla as an intern and most recently led the Cybertruck project from engineering through to mass production.

He also took charge of the Model 3 program in July 2024, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Tesla, led by Elon Musk, posted record deliveries in Q3 2024, largely due to U.S. buyers seeking a US$7,500 EV tax credit before its expiration.

Analysts predict a sharp drop in Q4 deliveries as this incentive has ended.

Cybertruck sales have struggled, with Tesla recently providing substantial discounts on unsold units.

A US recall filing in March showed 46,096 Cybertrucks were produced between its November 2023 launch and early 2024.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Reuters did not name a successor for Cybertruck and Model 3 after Awasthi left. That leaves execution risk (uncertainty about who is accountable for hitting production and cost targets) as both vehicles enter important production phases 1.
A U.S. recall filing (a safety notice submitted to federal regulators) recorded 46,096 Cybertrucks built from the November 2023 launch through early 2024. The ramp is still underway while management continuity matters for scaling 1.
With fourth-quarter (Q4) deliveries expected to drop sharply after the tax credit expiration, vague leadership plans for both programs raise doubts about near-term demand handling 1.

Tesla set a record for third-quarter deliveries as U.S. buyers rushed to secure a $7,500 tax credit before it expired on September 30 1.
Analysts forecast a sharp fourth-quarter volume slump after the incentive vanished 1.
Cybertruck demand has been uneven, with Tesla discounting inventory vehicles (unsold units already built and in stock) by thousands of dollars in recent months 1.