Recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reveal that Tesla has awarded its Senior Vice President, Zhu Xiaotong, an incentive package consisting of over 520,000 stock options.
According to the Form 4 filing, Zhu Xiaotong was granted a total of 520,021 stock options with an exercise price of $435.80 per share; however, these options will not be fully vested until March 5, 2031. This arrangement means he must remain employed at Tesla for more than five additional years to gain complete ownership of the stock option incentive.
Furthermore, with Tesla's stock closing at $445.01 on January 12, Zhu will only realize a true profit if the company's share price continues its upward trajectory. Overall, this stock option package is heavily oriented toward the long term and is intrinsically linked to Tesla's future operational performance and stock market results.
Biographical information indicates that Zhu Xiaotong was born in 1980 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. He joined Tesla in April 2014, initially overseeing the development of Tesla's Supercharger network in China. Following the departure of Tesla's then Global Vice President and President of China, Veronica Wu, in December 2014, Zhu assumed the role of China President. During his tenure, he spearheaded numerous localization initiatives for Tesla in China, including the launch of experience centers, marketing campaigns for new vehicles, and the construction of the Shanghai Gigafactory. In 2023, Tesla appointed Zhu Xiaotong as Senior Vice President of Automotive, cementing his position as one of the company's core executives.
Comments