Tesla's head of battery architecture Vineet Mehta to leave company after 17 years: Report

The timing of Vineet Mehta's exit is particularly notable as Tesla has been actively advancing its battery technology across its vehicle lineup.

Tesla's head of battery architecture, Vineet Mehta will be leaving the company after 17 years, as per a report by the Information. With him, Tesla has lost another crucial member of its battery development team in just a year. In April 2024, Drew Baglino, who served as Tesla's head of battery and powertrain, also left the organization.

Who is Vineet Mehta?

Mehta, a 17-year Tesla veteran, had  joined the electric vehicle maker in 2007. As per the report, he had informed his colleagues about his exit from Tesla on Tuesday. Details regarding his future plans or exact departure date remain unclear.

The timing of Mehta's exit is particularly notable as Tesla has been actively advancing its battery technology across its vehicle lineup.

Recent innovations include new battery configurations for both the flagship Model S sedan and the popular Cybertruck SUV.

Mounting challenges for Tesla

Tesla has faced increasing challenges in recent months. The company reported 13 percent decline in first-quarter deliveries — a downturn attributed to multiple factors including increasing global competition and customers postponing purchases while awaiting refreshed versions of popular models like the Model Y.

Market response has been equally challenging for the automaker, with Tesla's stock price dropping approximately 30 percent since the beginning of the year.

Once embraced by environmentalists, Tesla has also experienced significant brand damage with protests outside showrooms have been led partly by CEO Elon Musk's open support of the Donald Trump administration in the US and controversial statements on his social media platform X.