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Tesla loses key execs but hires a new one from GM’s failed robotaxi company

is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. There’s some executive shuffling going on at Tesla. Two key leaders have left recently – one of them being fired by CEO Elon Musk – but the company also hired an exec from Cruise, GM’s failed robotaxi company. Yesterday, reports from Forbes and CNBC said that Musk had fired Omead Afshar, who formerly led operations in North America and Europe and was a close confidant of Musk

As Tesla sales fall, Elon Musk fires top manufacturing executive

What just happened? What is a CEO to do when a company's sales continue to fall? If you're Elon Musk, the answer is to fire your vice president of manufacturing and operations in North America and Europe. Omead Afshar was promoted to the role in 2024, having joined the company in 2017 and spending years working in "the office of the CEO." After Bloomberg reported that Afshar had left the EV giant, Forbes wrote that he had been fired by Musk. The billionaire had previously praised Afshar for lea

As Tesla Sales Plummet in the U.S. and Europe, Elon Reportedly Fires His Top Salesman

Elon Musk has fired Omead Afshar, the head of Tesla’s sales and manufacturing operations in North America and Europe, multiple outlets reported Thursday. The apparent expulsion of the top exec comes as the billionaire’s car company flounders under plummeting sales in both the U.S. and the EU. Afshar, who was considered one of the more senior executives at the company, reported directly to Musk and has also worked at Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX. On Thursday, Bloomberg reported that Afshar had

Elon Musk reportedly fired a key Tesla executive following another month of flagging sales

Elon Musk has reportedly fired Omead Afshar, Tesla's head of manufacturing and operations in North America and Europe, according to Forbes. Both CNBC and Bloomberg corroborated the report. Afshar's exit follows Milan Kovac, the head of engineering on Tesla's Optimus robot, who left the company in early June. Afshar was promoted to the role last year, Bloomberg reports, after working for multiple different Musk-owned companies since 2017. The timing of his exit isn't particularly surprising give

Tesla Robotaxi Safety Monitor Forced to Clamber Into Driver's Seat and Take Over, Passenger Says

Earlier this year, Elon Musk promised that Tesla's robotaxis would launch offering fully "unsupervised" rides with "no one in the car." That turned out to be a lie. And less than a week into the robotaxi service's debut, which is currently limited to a tiny geofenced area in Austin, Texas, it's already become apparent that the self-driving cars are very much reliant on the human supervisors — or "safety monitors" — that Musk was adamant he wouldn't need. In an incident shared on Wednesday, a p

Tesla head of manufacturing Omead Afshar fired by Elon Musk

Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., and Omead Afshar, left, leave an event at the site of the company's manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has fired Omead Afshar, the automaker's vice president of manufacturing and operations, CNBC has confirmed, following declines in car sales in key markets this year. Afshar, who reported directly to Musk, led a team of more than a half-dozen high level employees, according to internal organi

Elon Musk reportedly fires Tesla’s top sales exec

Omead Afshar, Tesla’s vice president in charge of sales and manufacturing in North America and Europe, has reportedly been fired by CEO Elon Musk, according to Forbes. It’s not immediately known why Musk fired Afshar, who was one of his top lieutenants and closest confidants at the company. Afshar, Musk, and Tesla did not respond to requests for comment. Afshar’s departure was first reported by Bloomberg News. Afshar was posting support for the limited rollout of Tesla’s robotaxi service in Au

Texas Lawmakers Want More Control of the Tesla Robotaxis on Their Roads

As a small number of Tesla robotaxis continue to pick up and drop off a select few Tesla influencers in Austin, Texas, a state legislator who represents part of the electric automakers’ limited service area says she’s concerned the cars’ driving is “less reliable” than the typical human driver. Videos posted online show some “moving violations” that “could be very serious,” state senator Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat who represents Texas’ 14th district, told WIRED in an interview. “My constituency

Video Shows Tesla "Safety Monitor" Hitting Panic Button as Robotaxi Becomes Confused on Public Road

That could've been a lot worse. Tesla's extremely questionable Robotaxi launch has already seen some of its cars violate traffic laws. Now, new footage shows a Tesla robotaxi screwing up so badly that its human "safety monitor" is forced to hit the panic button — which is actually a touchscreen menu, in true tech industry fashion — heaping even more scrutiny onto the self-driving vehicles' capabilities. The footage, spotted by Teslarati, was taken by pro-Tesla influencer and investor Dave Lee

Tesla Stock in Tailspin After Error-Plagued Robotaxi Debut

Things are veering way off the road for Tesla. In the wake of the long-awaited Robotaxi rollout in Austin, Tesla stock saw an initial bump — but those gains weren't able to withstand the ample bad press the autonomous cabs have gotten in the few days they've trawled Texas streets. On Tuesday, the botched Robotaxi launch led Tesla stock to drop more than four percent and nearly $15 in a single day. That falloff came after videos emerged showing the driverless cabs — which also, embarrassingly,

Here’s a running list of all of Tesla’s robotaxi mishaps so far

is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State. Tesla’s robotaxi rollout has been rockier than the fanboys and influencers who got early access to the company’s driverless vehicles would like you to believe. And thanks to these diligent Redditors, we now have a list of all the mistakes the company’s “unsupervised” vehicles have made in the first couple days. Several inc

Government Alarmed by Videos of Tesla Robotaxis Immediately Breaking Road Laws

Tesla is already in hot water over its Robotaxi rollout in Austin. As Bloomberg reports, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contacted Tesla just a single day after its Robotaxi launch over apparent traffic violations captured on video and posted to social media. Since Sunday, the Elon Musk-owned electric carmaker has been offering autonomous rides, albeit with a human safety monitor, to a select few individuals willing to pay for the novelty. As videos taken in the wake

Tesla’s robotaxis are operating in a regulatory vacuum

is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State. This week, Tesla launched its long-promised robotaxi service in Austin, and almost immediately its vehicles were caught fucking up. In a YouTube video, a Tesla robotaxi briefly drives on the wrong side of the road. Another video shared by Ed Niedermeyer, the author of a book about Tesla’s origins, shows a robotaxi braking

US safety regulators contact Tesla over erratic robotaxis

US safety regulators contact Tesla over erratic robotaxis The BBC has contacted Tesla for comment. In a statement, the NHTSA said it was "aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information." Videos posted online seem to show instances where the vehicles, which had a safety driver in the passenger seat, drive erratically. The firm's long-awaited robotaxis - which boss Elon Musk says are central to Tesla's future - were tried out on publi

Tesla Robotaxi Terrifyingly Jerks Wheel Back and Forth While Carrying Passenger

Tesla's Robotaxi service is finally, actually here. And for the most part, the launch, which took place this weekend, has been pretty uneventful. A spate of Tesla "influencers" have already uploaded videos of their first rides depicting the driverless cabs — though not supervisor-less, as each one comes with a human "safety monitor" silently riding shotgun — roaming the streets of Austin, Texas. Nothing to write home about. Except for at least one genuinely bizarre incident. In a video uploaded

US safety regulators contact Tesla over erratic robotaxis

US safety regulators contact Tesla over erratic robotaxis The BBC has contacted Tesla for comment. In a statement, the NHTSA said it was "aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information." Videos posted online seem to show instances where the vehicles, which had a safety driver in the passenger seat, drive erratically. The firm's long-awaited robotaxis - which boss Elon Musk says are central to Tesla's future - were tried out on publi

Uber, Waymo robotaxi service opens to passengers in Atlanta

Uber and Alphabet's Waymo are now offering robotaxi rides to the public in Atlanta, as the companies continue expansion of their partnership. The Waymo robotaxis available through the Uber app will cover approximately 65 square miles around Atlanta, but will not yet travel on highways or to the airport. The vehicles feature Waymo's driverless technology, known as the Waymo Driver, integrated into battery electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs. The companies said in September that they would be jointly br

Tesla robotaxi incidents caught on camera in Austin draw regulators' attention

A Tesla robotaxi drives on the street along South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, on June 22, 2025 Tesla was contacted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday after videos posted on social media showed the company's robotaxis driving in a chaotic manner on public roads in Austin, Texas. Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker debuted autonomous trips in Austin on Sunday, opening the service to a limited number of riders by invitation only. In the videos shared widely onli

Tesla’s robotaxis have already caught the attention of federal safety regulators

Federal safety regulators have reached out to Tesla a day after the automaker began providing rides in its branded robotaxis in Austin. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contacted Tesla after numerous videos posted online appear to show Tesla robotaxis violating traffic laws in South Austin, where the company is providing rides to invited customers. Bloomberg was the first to report that NHTSA reached out to Tesla. NHTSA confirmed to TechCrunch that is has contacted the au

Tesla stock pops 8% as Musk touts 'successful' robotaxi Austin launch

A Tesla Inc. robotaxi on Oltorf Street in Austin, Texas, on June 22, 2025. Tesla 's Model Y robotaxi finally hit the road this weekend, sending shares of the electric vehicle maker up 8% on Monday. The EV giant debuted autonomous rides in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, opening the service to a limited number of riders by invitation only. Those invited included longtime Tesla fans, promoters and shareholders, many of whom generate income from posting Tesla- and Musk-related social media content on

Tesla's first robotaxi rides are already running into a few bumps

Tesla launched its robotaxi service over the weekend, with only a small number of cars and heavy human supervision on and off the road. While less impressive than previously promised, the company's caution ultimately seems for the best — at least one robotaxi attempted to drive on the wrong side of the road, based on a video posted to X and spotted by Bloomberg. The ride video shared by Rob Maurer is largely uneventful, with the Tesla navigating turns and lane merges with few issues. Except for

Videos Show Tesla Robotaxis Swerving, Hard-Braking for Cops in First Day of Austin Launch

Elon Musk’s Tesla launched its driverless “Robotaxi” service in Austin, Texas, on Sunday to the over-the-top praise from its diehard fans who bragged about spending all day calling for rides. For everyone else, the whole thing ranged from extremely underwhelming to confusing to downright dangerous. Footage has already started populating online of Tesla’s driverless vehicles making confounding decisions and occasionally messing up so bad that they end up driving on the wrong side of the road. Th

Tesla stock pops 9% as Musk touts 'successful' robotaxi Austin launch

A Tesla Inc. robotaxi on Oltorf Street in Austin, Texas, on June 22, 2025. Tesla 's Model Y robotaxi finally hit the road this weekend, sending shares of the electric vehicle maker up 9% on Monday. The EV giant debuted autonomous rides in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, opening the service to a limited number of riders by invitation only. Those invited included longtime Tesla fans, promoters and shareholders, many of whom generate income from posting Tesla- and Musk-related social media content on

Tesla’s $100 Billion Robotaxi Rally

Tesla is celebrating a massive win on Wall Street. Following the weekend launch of its long-awaited robotaxi service, the company’s shares jumped more than 10% in Monday trading session, adding a staggering $104 billion to its market capitalization and pushing the total value of the Elon Musk-led company to $1.14 trillion. The surge was a direct response to the limited debut in Austin, Texas, where a small fleet of about a dozen Model Y SUVs began operating in a geofenced area. For investors, t

Tesla's Robotaxi Service Hits the Road in Austin, With Riders Sharing Their Experiences

Table of Contents Tesla's Robotaxi Service Hits the Road in Austin, With Riders Sharing Their Experiences Tesla's robotaxi service kicked off in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, with the cars picking up paying passengers without a driver behind the wheel for the first time. "The @Tesla_AI robotaxi launch begins in Austin this afternoon with customers paying a $4.20 flat fee!" Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted to X on Sunday. Earlier this month, Musk had said Tesla's robotaxi service would "tentatively" laun

Tesla launches robotaxi service in Austin

Tesla’s robotaxi service, touted by Elon Musk as the future of his flagging electric-car maker, launched in the company’s home city of Austin, Texas, on Sunday with about 10 vehicles and a human safety driver on board amid regulatory scrutiny of its self-driving technology. Shares in Tesla have risen about 50 percent from this year’s low in early April, with investors hopeful the autonomous ride-hailing service will help revive a company that has suffered declining sales and a consumer backlash

Tesla’s Robotaxi Service Hits the Road in Texas

After nearly a decade of waiting, Tesla has launched a limited self-driving car service in the Austin, Texas, area. Company executives, including Musk, have said the autonomous vehicle technology debuting today is critical to Tesla’s future. The limited service, which for now is open only to early users invited by Tesla, includes some 20 2025 Model Y sedans available for rides through a Tesla-made app between 6 a.m and midnight. Terms of service posted on X by invited riders indicate that the s

Tesla stock pops 10% as Musk touts 'successful' robotaxi Austin launch

A Tesla Inc. robotaxi on Oltorf Street in Austin, Texas, US, on Sunday, June 22, 2025. T Tesla 's driverless robotaxi finally hit the road this weekend, sending shares of the electric vehicle maker up 10% on Monday. The EV giant debuted autonomous rides in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, opening the service to a limited number of riders by invitation only. CEO Elon Musk said in a post on social media platform X that customers were charged a flat fee of $4.20. "Super congratulations to the @Tesla_AI

Tesla robotaxis launch in Austin with $4.20 invite-only service and human "safety monitors"

What just happened? Tesla's long-awaited robotaxi service finally launched yesterday (June 23) in Austin, Texas. So far, it has been limited to invited participants and not the general public, and passengers aren't alone in the vehicles; Tesla's "safety monitors" sit in the front passenger seat ready to take over if something goes wrong – despite Elon Musk promising the service would launch unsupervised. Musk's "tentatively, June 22" response early this month to an X user's question about when