AUSTIN, Texas (Diya TV) — Two key program managers have exited Tesla amid falling sales and major product recalls. The departures come during a challenging period for the electric vehicle maker, which has seen sharp declines in sales for both the Cybertruck and Model Y, two of its most important products.
The exits of Indian American Siddhant Awasthi, the Cybertruck program manager, and Emmanuel Lamacchia, who managed the Model Y, were reported within hours of each other, according to Reuters. Both leaders announced their departures on LinkedIn, offering praise for Tesla but no clear reason for leaving.
Awasthi wrote, “I recently made one of the hardest decisions of my life,” describing his eight-year journey at Tesla as transformative. He joined the company around 2017, shortly after working on a university project related to Elon Musk’s Hyperloop concept. His post highlights major milestones he achieved “all before hitting 30.”
Lamacchia, who oversaw the company’s top-selling Model Y, posted, “What a journey it’s been,” reflecting on his time at the automaker. Neither Awasthi nor Lamacchia indicated they were asked to leave. Tesla has not commented on either departure.
Tesla’s sales figures show a steep decline. In the third quarter of 2025, the company sold 5,385 Cybertrucks, marking a 63% drop from the same period last year. The Model Y, Tesla’s best-selling vehicle, saw a 23% decline in sales compared to 2024, according to Car and Driver.
Adding to the pressure, Tesla has been hit by several large recalls. In October, regulators recalled 63,000 Cybertrucks because their headlights were too bright. Earlier in March, another recall affected 46,000 Cybertrucks after a thin decorative metal panel kept detaching, revealing internal components. The recalls raised concerns about Tesla’s production quality and oversight.
Reports from Electrek suggest that Musk’s other ventures, including SpaceX and xAI, have been purchasing excess Cybertruck inventory, indicating slower consumer demand.
Reuters reported that Awasthi and Lamacchia’s exits are part of a broader wave of senior departures. Over the past year, “several senior program managers” have left Tesla, including David Zhang, who led the Model S and Model X programs.
Program managers play a crucial role at Tesla, overseeing production timelines, quality control, and communication between engineering and design teams. Their departures could impact how efficiently Tesla delivers vehicles and manages its ambitious new projects.
Some analysts suggest that poor management may be contributing to Tesla’s recent challenges. If the issues stem from flawed leadership within key programs, the recent exits could signal a turning point for the company.
Despite these challenges, Elon Musk continues to promote Tesla’s long-term goals. On a recent earnings call, Musk described plans to transform Tesla from an automaker into a robotics and automation powerhouse. He said the company is focused on deploying 1 million robotaxis and 1 million humanoid robots in the coming years.
Musk’s vision is ambitious but controversial. During the same call, he referred to unnamed critics as “corporate terrorists” who, he claimed, tried to block a massive shareholder-approved pay package that could make him a trillionaire if Tesla meets its targets.
While Tesla’s goals may extend beyond cars, vehicle sales remain its foundation. Achieving Musk’s vision will depend on having experienced program managers who can execute complex engineering and production plans on time.
