Tesla Fires Top Exec Amid Sales Slump, BYD Surge

Omead Afshar, a key executive and longtime confidant of Elon Musk, has been fired from Tesla amid a worsening sales slump in North America, Europe, and China. Afshar’s departure comes as Tesla contends with the backlash over Musk’s political activities and mounting competition from Chinese automaker BYD, which recently surpassed Tesla as the world’s largest EV maker. The company has also experienced additional high-profile exits, including Milan Kovac, head of the Optimus robotics program. Tesla’s shares have dropped between 19% and 28% this year, and net income plunged 71% in the first quarter. In response to declining demand for electric vehicles, Musk is now shifting Tesla’s focus toward artificial intelligence and robotaxi technology. Investors are closely monitoring these developments amid ongoing turbulence at the company.