Siddhant Awasthi Steps Down as Tesla Cybertruck Program Head

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

In a notable transition, Siddhant Awasthi, who led Tesla’s Cybertruck program, has revealed his departure after an impressive tenure of over eight years. His exit underscores ongoing leadership dynamics and the challenges Tesla faces in the electric truck sector.

Awasthi’s journey at Tesla is a testament to rapid growth. He joined the company in 2018 fresh from school, after interning and engaging in a hyperloop initiative. Within a brief span, he advanced to an engineering manager role, and by 2021, he was managing the Cybertruck’s intricate 48-volt architecture as a senior technical program manager. By late 2022, he took the reins of the Cybertruck program, focusing on production scaling and future enhancements.

Despite its groundbreaking concept, the Cybertruck is encountering significant commercial hurdles. Tesla originally anticipated producing 250,000 units annually, yet current sales hover around 25,000 trucks each year. Analysts attribute this discrepancy to varying expectations set during the 2019 unveiling, contrasting sharply with the released model in 2023, which features lower range, fewer options, and increased pricing.

In addition to his original responsibilities, Awasthi briefly managed the Model 3 program last year while still overseeing the Cybertruck initiatives. In his farewell note, he cherished his journey at Tesla, recalling key contributions to the Model 3 scaling, Giga Shanghai, electronics advancements, and the unique Cybertruck venture—all accomplished before his 30th birthday.

Tesla’s leadership strategy highlights a preference for nurturing internal talent rather than sourcing leaders externally. In the past five years, the company has predominantly promoted team members from within. Awasthi exemplifies this strategy, although some experts voice concerns about potential setbacks in managing large-scale projects due to this approach.

As Awasthi departs, Tesla continues to tackle the greater challenge of enhancing production capabilities and meeting the lofty expectations established for its offerings. This transition is part of a broader wave of organizational changes following previous layoffs and ongoing personnel shifts across the company.