Tesla’s revolving door of high-profile departures swings again with the exit of Siddhant Awasthi and Emmanuel Lamacchia, two of the company’s top vehicle program managers. Awasthi, who rose from intern to lead the Cybertruck and Model 3 programs, revealed his departure after eight years. Lamacchia, in charge of Tesla’s best-selling Model Y for the past four years, announced his exit just hours later.
Both engineers were instrumental in pushing Tesla’s most visible models into mass production. Awasthi oversaw the stainless steel-clad Cybertruck, a vehicle known for its polarizing design and a series of recalls that have dogged its rollout. Despite the hype, Cybertruck sales have struggled, with just 16,000 units sold in the first three quarters of 2025, far from CEO Elon Musk’s lofty projections.
Lamacchia’s tenure boasted a remarkable feat: converting four factories across three continents to produce the Model Y, Tesla’s global bestseller, in just two weeks a logistical challenge unmatched in the automotive industry.
Neither manager cited specific reasons for leaving, but their departures come amidst a broader exodus of senior Tesla personnel, including executives in sales, battery technology, and the humanoid robot project.
Tesla has remained tight-lipped about these leadership changes, focusing public attention on its ambitious goals for AI-driven growth and electrification. Yet, losing key program managers for its marquee models underlines ongoing internal challenges.
