After weeks of hypothesis, we now know the precise function Tesla’s China boss Tom Zhu shall be given inside the firm’s world operations. 

The manager has been reportedly promoted to take direct oversight of Tesla’s US meeting vegetation in addition to gross sales operations in North America and Europe, in keeping with an inner posting of reporting strains reviewed by Reuters. 

Apparently, the Tesla posting confirmed that Zhu retains his title of vp for Larger China in addition to his tasks as Tesla’s most senior government for gross sales in the remainder of Asia as of January 3.

The information company was in a position to assessment the organizational chart that had been posted internally by Tesla and confirmed the change with two unnamed sources who had seen it. Whereas he’s not (but) Elon Musk’s direct successor, the transfer makes Tom Zhu the highest-profile government at Tesla after the CEO. He could have direct oversight for deliveries in all the firm’s main markets and operations of its key manufacturing hubs.

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Tesla managers reporting to Zhu embody: Jason Shawhan, director of producing on the Gigafactory in Texas; Hrushikesh Sagar, senior director of producing at Tesla’s Fremont manufacturing unit; Joe Ward, vp accountable for Europe, the Center East and Africa; and Troy Jones, vp of North America gross sales and repair. Tesla nation managers in China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand continued to report back to Zhu.

Zhu doesn’t have a direct report at Tesla’s Berlin plant, however an individual with data of the matter advised Reuters that duty for that operation would include the reporting line for Amsterdam-based Ward.

The reporting strains for Zhu would hold Tesla’s automobile design and improvement – each areas the place Musk has been closely concerned – separate whereas creating an obvious deputy to Musk in the case of managing world gross sales and manufacturing. His appointment to a worldwide function comes at a time when Musk has been criticized for being distracted by his acquisition of Twitter. 

Late final yr, Tesla introduced in a group of executives from its China subsidiary headed by Tom Zhu to troubleshoot manufacturing points in america. His promotion comes as Tesla is getting ready for the launch of the Cybertruck and a refreshed model of the Mannequin 3.

Underneath Zhu’s management, Tesla’s Shanghai plant noticed a robust rebound from Covid lockdowns in China. Throughout Shanghai’s two-month Covid lockdown, Zhu was reportedly among the many first batch of staff sleeping within the manufacturing unit to maintain it working.