Tesla Cybertruck chief resigns amid plummeting sales
Siddhant Awasthi, the leader of Tesla’s Cybertruck program since its inception, announced his resignation on Sunday evening, marking another high-profile departure from the electric vehicle giant as the futuristic pickup faces a steep decline in sales.
A career shaped at Tesla
Awasthi, who joined Tesla as an intern eight years ago, shared the news of his departure on LinkedIn, reflecting on his journey within the company. “Eight years ago, when I started as an intern, I never imagined I’d one day lead the Cybertruck program and bring it to life,” he wrote. Over the years, he rose through the ranks to lead two of Tesla’s flagship vehicle programs, including the Model 3.
Before stepping down, Awasthi was overseeing the production ramp-up of the Cybertruck, Tesla’s bold step into the electric pickup market. In July, he also assumed leadership of the Model 3 program, a key vehicle for Tesla’s global sales.
Sales struggles overshadow departure
Awasthi’s resignation comes as the Cybertruck grapples with significant commercial challenges. Tesla sold only 5,385 Cybertrucks in the third quarter of 2025, a 63% drop compared to the same period last year, according to Cox Automotive. Year-to-date deliveries stood at 16,097 units, down 38% from the 25,974 sold in the first nine months of 2024.
These figures fall far short of CEO Elon Musk’s 2023 projections that Tesla could produce 250,000 to 500,000 Cybertrucks annually at full capacity. To address low demand, the company has recently introduced steep discounts on available inventory.
The Cybertruck’s struggles contrast sharply with Tesla’s overall performance in the third quarter. The company reported record deliveries of 497,099 vehicles, driven by U.S. customers rushing to take advantage of a $7,500 federal tax credit before it expired on September 30. However, analysts predict a sharp decline in deliveries for the fourth quarter as the credit is no longer available.
Broader leadership exodus
Awasthi’s departure is part of a broader wave of executive exits from Tesla in 2025. Over a dozen senior leaders have left the company this year, including Troy Jones, vice president of North American sales, who departed in July after 15 years at Tesla. Other notable departures include Piero Landolfi, head of North American service, and Milan Kovac, who led the humanoid Optimus robot team.
Tesla has long been known for promoting talent from within, a practice exemplified by Awasthi’s rapid rise. According to his LinkedIn profile, he became an engineering lead just two years after starting full-time in 2018 and was named head of the Cybertruck program in late 2022, ahead of its production launch.
As Tesla navigates these challenges, the Cybertruck’s future and its role in the company’s lineup remains uncertain.
