Tesla Executives Step Away, Adding to Auto Maker's Challenges

Mr. Schwall's exit comes after Tesla said Friday that its engineering chief, Doug Field, was taking a leave of absence to recharge and spend time with his family. Mr. Field is stepping away from the company for several weeks, according to people familiar with the matter. One person described the absence as a "six-week sabbatical" while Tesla declined to say when he would come back. "He has not left Tesla," a company spokesman said. Mr. Field, a key leader at the auto maker since joining in 2013 from Apple Inc., oversees the engineering of Tesla's vehicles, and last year he was also given oversight of production to better align those efforts.