Tesla China boss promoted under Elon Musk

Tesla’s China chief Tom Zhu has been promoted to be the second-highest ranking executive under CEO Elon Musk.

According to Reuters, insider sources confirmed the change amid growing investor concerns demanding Musk step down due to his focus on the Twitter social media platform acquisition.

Zhu, who still remains vice president for Greater China, has been tasked with directly overseeing the electric carmaker’s factories and sales operations in North America and Europe.

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However, Tesla’s vehicle design and development will remain separate.

Managers in China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand continue to report to Zhu, who also holds a passport in the latter country.

Zhu joined the company in 2014 and has been known as a “no-fuss manager who sports a buzz cut, favors [sic] Tesla-branded fleece jackets and has lived in a Government-subsidized [sic] apartment that is a 10-minute drive from the Shanghai Gigafactory”, according to Reuters.

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He has been responsible for troubleshooting production issues in the US and the Shanghai factory’s strong rebound from COVID-19 lockdowns.

Zhu was reportedly among a few employees sleeping in the factory during the two-month lockdown to keep producing its two electric cars (another Musk trait).

Australia sources the popular Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV from Shanghai.

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Tesla Roadster

Tesla posted a record 1.31 million cars delivered globally in 2022, which represents a 40 per cent spike compared to 2021.

It just started deliveries of the updated Model S and Model X large EVs in Europe, Semi truck in the US, and is ramping up production of the Model Y crossover at its new Berlin plant.

More than four years after their debuts, customers are still waiting on the controversial Cybertruck electric pickup and sleek second-generation Roadster coupe.