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Siddhant Awasthi's decision follows a string of executive exits at Tesla, which has grappled with lukewarm consumer demand and the loss of U.S. incentives while pursuing new business lines.

The donation has raised concerns from government oversight experts about private donors’ influence on public departments and the boost to the Tesla brand.

“If we have to have a steering wheel, it can have a steering wheel and pedals,” Robyn Denholm, the chair of Tesla’s board of directors, told Bloomberg News in an interview Oct. 28.

For the past 18 months, Tesla said manufacturing would start by the end of 2025 and ramp up to capacity through 2026. The firm has a history of missing deadlines, including with the Semi.

Tesla last added a new product to its lineup almost two years ago with the Cybertruck, and the polarizing pickup has been a disappointment.

The purchase amounts to a show of confidence in Tesla’s prospects after a challenging first half of the year in which vehicle deliveries slumped 13% worldwide.

Tesla's chair insists no one other than Elon Musk is capable of leading the company’s transition into artificial intelligence and robotics — but it’s possible he won’t do it from the CEO’s seat.

Tesla’s worldwide vehicle deliveries fell 13% in the first half of the year, putting the company on course for its second consecutive annual decline.

Tesla plans to increase its reliance on external technology partners, including Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Samsung.

U.S. auto safety regulators granted an exemption to federal vehicle safety standards for purpose-built driverless cars made by Zoox, the Transportation Department said in a statement.