Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
CarCodyAdvertise
Service recordThe Garage

Elon Musk Has Fired One of His Top Tesla Lieutenants

Omead Afshar, a longtime Tesla executive and Elon Musk confidant, reportedly was fired in June 2025. Tesla did not confirm the firing or disclose a reason, while falling sales in North America and Europe provided the immediate business context.
Entry387 Date Time6 min MechanicCarCody Team

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Omead Afshar, one of Elon Musk’s longtime Tesla executives, left the automaker in late June 2025. Forbes reported that Musk fired Afshar, citing people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg and Reuters used more cautious language, describing his departure or exit. Tesla, Musk, and Afshar did not publicly confirm the firing or give an official reason.

The timing placed the leadership change under a bright spotlight: Tesla was dealing with weakening vehicle sales in North America and Europe, while Musk was shifting attention toward the company’s robotaxi plans.

Who is Omead Afshar?

Afshar joined Tesla in 2017 and initially worked in Musk’s office. Over time, he became one of Musk’s trusted senior lieutenants and took on increasingly important operational responsibilities.

In October 2024, Tesla promoted Afshar to vice president overseeing sales and manufacturing operations in North America and Europe. That remit was substantial, but it did not make him Tesla’s global head of sales. Tesla’s Asian sales operations remained under senior vice president Tom Zhu.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Afshar was therefore positioned close to the parts of Tesla’s business facing the most immediate pressure: vehicle production, deliveries, and sales in two major markets.

What happened to Afshar?

Reports of Afshar’s departure emerged in late June 2025, shortly before the end of Tesla’s second quarter. Forbes reported that Musk had fired him, based on information from people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg and Reuters initially reported that Afshar had left or departed the company rather than independently confirming a firing.

That distinction matters. There was no public statement from Tesla, Musk, or Afshar confirming that he had been dismissed. There was also no official explanation tying the personnel change to a particular performance issue.

The most accurate summary is that Afshar reportedly was fired by Musk, according to people familiar with the matter, but Tesla did not publicly confirm the claim or disclose a reason.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Did falling Tesla sales cause the firing?

Several reports connected the timing to Tesla’s declining sales in North America and Europe. That is a plausible business context, but it should not be presented as a confirmed explanation.

Rank #2
OWB Double Mag Pouch for Glock 17, 19, 22, 23 & More - USA Made - Signature Double Magazine Carrier with Tek-Lok Belt Attachment Clip by Blade-Tech Holsters
  • COMPATIBILITY: This Mag Pouch features adjustable retention screws allowing for fitment of many different models. This one Mag Pouch will accommodate mags for the: Beretta APX 9, Caracal 9, FN 509, FNS 9-40, CZ TS2, Glock 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 43X, 45, 47, 48, and H&K USP Full Size 9-40
  • USA MADE: Produced with high strength, heat resistant polymer in the USA. This Blade-Tech Precision molded Signature Double Mag Pouch has a superior fit to Kydex. Carry Confident with your mags held securely in place.
  • VERSATILE DESIGN: With a flared lip for smooth reholstering, an adjustable retention screw and rubber spacer to ensure that you can tailor your retention to preference, and an ambidextrous design, the Signature Double Mag Pouch is an excellent option for anything from a day at the range to duty carry.
  • LIFETIME WARRANTY: We offer a Carry Confident Lifetime Guarantee We are so confident in all of our holsters that we offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. We guarantee every item made by Blade-Tech. No more, no less. We believe in our products and stand by the quality of workmanship, craftsmanship and materials in each one. We guarantee the lifetime of each item against failure or damage in its intended usage.

On June 25, Reuters reported that Tesla’s European new-car sales fell 27.9% year over year in May. It was the fifth consecutive monthly decline for the company in Europe, even as total battery-electric vehicle sales across the region increased by 27.2%. In other words, the European EV market was growing while Tesla was losing ground to competing models.

Tesla’s broader second-quarter delivery figures later reinforced the pressure. The company delivered 384,122 vehicles in Q2 2025, a 13.5% decline from the same quarter a year earlier. Tesla released the delivery number on July 2, followed by its full quarterly financial update on July 23.

Those figures help explain why Afshar’s exit attracted attention, particularly because he was responsible for sales and manufacturing in the United States, Canada, and Europe. They do not prove that poor sales were the reason for his removal. Tesla never publicly said that they were.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The robotaxi rollout added another layer

Afshar’s departure came only days after Tesla began a limited robotaxi rollout in Austin, Texas. On June 23, he publicly praised the rollout on X. Reports of his exit followed shortly afterward.

The timing made the personnel change especially notable. Tesla was presenting autonomous driving as a major part of its future strategy while simultaneously managing a difficult period for its established vehicle business. A senior executive responsible for key sales regions leaving at that point raised questions about whether Musk was reorganizing the company around new priorities or responding to disappointing results.

There is no public evidence that Afshar’s comments about the robotaxi launch caused his departure, and the timing alone does not establish a connection.

Who took over Tesla’s U.S. and European sales?

After Afshar’s exit, Musk assumed oversight of Tesla’s sales operations in the United States and Europe. Tom Zhu continued to oversee sales in Asia.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Musk taking direct control is significant because Tesla already operates with an unusually centralized leadership structure. It may give him tighter control over pricing, inventory, regional strategy, and the response to slowing demand. It also adds more operational responsibility to an executive already focused on several companies and on Tesla’s autonomous-driving ambitions.

Region Reported sales oversight after Afshar’s exit
United States and Europe Elon Musk
Asia Tom Zhu

Why the change matters for Tesla

Afshar was not simply a conventional sales executive. His reported role combined sales and manufacturing across North America and Europe, linking demand with the company’s ability to build and deliver vehicles. Replacing or removing a leader with that scope can affect several areas at once:

  • Regional sales execution: Tesla may need to respond to stronger competition from established automakers and newer EV brands.
  • Inventory and pricing: Weak demand can force changes to discounts, production schedules, and delivery targets.
  • Manufacturing coordination: Production decisions must track local demand rather than simply maximize factory output.
  • Management bandwidth: Musk’s direct involvement could speed decisions, but it also concentrates more responsibility at the top.

The change also fits a broader pattern of senior-management turnover around Tesla during a period of strategic and commercial uncertainty. However, it would be speculative to treat Afshar’s departure as proof of a single internal cause.

Rank #4
AR-15/M4/M16 Single Mag Pouch - USA Made - 5.56mm Rifle Magazine Carrier with Tek-Lok Belt Attachment Clip - by Blade-Tech Holsters
  • COMPATIBILITY: This Mag Pouch can accommodate nearly all standard AR-15 or M4 style magazines such as Metal GI style magazines and Magpul PMAGs.
  • USA Made: Produced with high strength, heat resistant polymer in the USA. This Blade-Tech Precision molded Signature Double Mag Pouch has a superior fit to Kydex. Carry Confident with your mags held securely in place.
  • ADJUSTABLE RETENTION: With adjustable retention screws and rubber spacers to ensure that you can tailor your retention to preference, the Signature AR Magazine Pouch is an excellent option for anything from a day at the range to duty carry.
  • AMBIDEXTROUS DESIGN: This mag pouch accommodates both left and right handed shooters.
  • LIFETIME WARRANTY: We offer a Carry Confident Lifetime Guarantee We are so confident in all of our holsters that we offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. We guarantee every item made by Blade-Tech. No more, no less. We believe in our products and stand by the quality of workmanship, craftsmanship and materials in each one. We guarantee the lifetime of each item against failure or damage in its intended usage.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

A previous controversy should not be treated as the explanation

Afshar had previously been associated in media reports with internal scrutiny over the procurement of special glass. That matter was reported in connection with Tesla in 2022, but the available reporting does not establish that it caused his 2025 departure.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Linking the two events as fact would go beyond what has been publicly documented. The confirmed sequence is narrower: Afshar left Tesla in late June 2025; Forbes reported that Musk fired him; and no official reason was disclosed.

What is known—and what remains uncertain

Question Best-supported answer
Who left Tesla? Omead Afshar, a longtime executive and Musk confidant.
When? Late June 2025.
Was he fired? Forbes reported that Musk fired him, citing people familiar with the matter. Tesla did not publicly confirm it.
What was his role? Vice president overseeing sales and manufacturing in North America and Europe.
Why was he removed? No official reason was disclosed. Falling sales were discussed as context, not confirmed as the cause.
Who assumed U.S. and European sales oversight? Elon Musk.

FAQ

Was Omead Afshar fired by Elon Musk?

Forbes reported that Musk fired Afshar, citing people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg and Reuters initially described Afshar as having left Tesla, and Tesla, Musk, and Afshar did not publicly confirm the firing.

What was Omead Afshar’s job at Tesla?

Afshar was promoted in October 2024 to vice president overseeing sales and manufacturing operations in North America and Europe. He joined Tesla in 2017 and initially worked in Musk’s office.

Was Afshar fired because Tesla sales were falling?

Reports connected his departure with Tesla’s weakening sales, especially in Europe, but Tesla did not publicly state that poor sales caused the firing. That explanation remains unconfirmed.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Who oversees Tesla sales after Afshar’s departure?

Elon Musk assumed oversight of Tesla sales in the United States and Europe. Senior vice president Tom Zhu continued overseeing sales in Asia.

The Bottom Line

Omead Afshar’s late-June 2025 departure removed a senior Musk confidant who had been responsible for Tesla sales and manufacturing in North America and Europe. Forbes reported that Musk fired him, but the company did not confirm the dismissal or provide a reason. Tesla’s falling regional sales provide important context, not a proven explanation. For now, the clearest operational consequence is that Musk took direct control of U.S. and European sales while Tesla navigated declining deliveries and its new robotaxi push.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

More from the Garage

  1. Entry001Date09 OCT 26Time3 minWhich Brake Pad Should You Buy From RockAuto or Elsewhere?Section: Blog
  2. Entry002Date09 OCT 26Time5 minThe Pros and Cons of Touchless Car Wash SystemsSection: Blog
  3. Entry003Date09 OCT 26Time3 minCan a Trickle Charger or Battery Tender Properly Charge a Car Battery?Section: Blog

Thanks for visiting Carcody

Carcody.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.