In another leadership shift amid plummeting deliveries, Tesla's North American sales executive has exited the company according to insider reports on Tuesday. Troy Jones, Vice President of Sales, Service, and Delivery, concluded his 15-year tenure overseeing Tesla's largest market region. This departure follows closely on the heels of CEO Elon Musk's senior aide Omead Afshar leaving less than a month prior—Afshar had recently been promoted to lead North American and European sales and manufacturing operations.
The executive exodus continues with June's departure of North American HR Director Jenna Ferrua, preceded earlier this year by engineering VP Milan Kovac's exit. Kovac spearheaded development of the pivotal "Optimus" humanoid robot project, central to Musk's strategic pivot transforming Tesla from electric vehicle manufacturer into artificial intelligence and robotics enterprise.
Confronting sliding sales, brutal competition, and brand pressure from Musk's political engagements, Tesla counters with refreshed models and affordable financing options. March saw upgrades to the popular Model Y SUV, April introduced a stripped-down Cybertruck variant, while June brought refreshed Model S and Model X luxury editions.
Company executives deflect Wall Street's delivery slump and margin compression concerns by spotlighting future potential in Full Self-Driving software and Optimus robotics. On June 22, Tesla launched its long-anticipated robotaxi pilot, inviting select social media influencers in Austin, Texas to experience autonomous Model Y rides through a new app-based service.