Tesla Grants Zhu Xiaotong 520,000 Stock Options, Fully Vested in Five Years to Strengthen Core Team Ties

Tesla recently filed a document with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing that Zhu Xiaotong, Senior Vice President of Automotive, has been granted stock options for 520,021 shares at an exercise price of $435.80 per share. The options will fully vest on March 5, 2031, and expire on January 8, 2036, meaning Zhu must remain employed at Tesla for at least five more years to fully realize the award. The market views this move as Tesla’s strong effort to retain a key executive. Zhu joined Tesla in 2014 and played a leading role in building the company’s Gigafactory in China and expanding its Asia-Pacific operations. In 2023, he was named one of Tesla’s top four global executives. Recently, his appearance at the groundbreaking ceremony for Tesla’s new Megafactory in Shanghai sparked speculation that he may be returning to lead operations in China. Tesla currently faces the challenge of declining global vehicle deliveries for two consecutive years.