snapshot
- Tom Zhu has reportedly been promoted to Tesla’s second-in-command.
- Still retains Tesla China chief chairman
- Seen with leadership qualities like Kasturi
Tesla’s China chief Tom Zhou has been promoted to the second-highest-ranking executive under CEO Elon Musk.
According to Reutersinsiders confirmed the change amid growing concerns from investors calling for Musk’s resignation as he focuses on acquiring social media platform Twitter.
Zhou, still vice president of Greater China, is tasked with directly overseeing the electric carmaker’s factories and sales operations in North America and Europe.
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However, the design and development of Tesla’s vehicles will remain separate.
Managers in China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand continue to report to Zhou, who also holds a passport in the latter country.
Zhou joined the company in 2014 and is known as a “no-fuss manager who plays buzzcut, likes [sic] Tesla branded fleece jackets and live in government subsidized ones. [sic] The apartment is a 10-minute drive from the Shanghai Gigafactory”, according to Reuters.
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He has been responsible for resolving production issues in the US and the Shanghai factory’s strong rebound from the COVID-19 lockdown.
Zhu was reportedly among the few employees who slept at the factory during the two-month lockdown to continue producing its two electric cars (another Musk specialty).
Australia is the source of the popular Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV from Shanghai.
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Tesla Roadster
Tesla posted a record 1.31 million car deliveries globally in 2022, representing a 40 percent increase over 2021.
It just started deliveries of the updated Model S and Model X large EVs in Europe, the semi-truck in the U.S., and is ramping up production of the Model Y crossover at its new Berlin plant.
Four years after its debut, consumers are still waiting for the controversial Cybertruck electric pickup and the sleek second-generation roadster coupe.