Key Points
- Tesla has hired two new managers to expand its production in North America.
- Michael Schmitt comes from Bosch and will be the “Director of Operation Giga Tesla” in Austin, Texas. He may also be responsible for the planned new Tesla plant in Mexico.
- Michael Hildebrand comes from Eli Lilly and will be the “Head of Gigafactory Nevada Expansion Engineering and Construction”. He will lead the expansion of the Tesla factory in Nevada.
- Tesla is investing more than 3.6 billion US dollars in the expansion of its production in North America and wants to hire 3,000 new employees.
- Zachery Kirkhorn has resigned as Tesla’s chief financial officer. He will be replaced by Vaibhav Taneja.
Here are some additional details about the two new managers
- Michael Schmitt has over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry. He worked for Bosch for 20 years, where he held various management positions in production and logistics. He is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.
- Michael Hildebrand has over 18 years of experience in the engineering and construction industry. He worked for Eli Lilly for 15 years, where he held various management positions in engineering and construction. He is also a licensed professional engineer.
Two New Managers
Tesla has hired two new managers to bolster its production expansion efforts in North America. German manufacturing specialist Michael Schmitt, previously with Bosch, now holds the position of “Director Operation Giga Tesla” at Tesla’s Austin, Texas facility. This role suggests his involvement in overseeing operations at both the Texas factory and the upcoming Tesla plant in Mexico.
Michael Schmitt
Schmitt’s extensive experience
Schmitt’s extensive experience, including five years as head of Bosch’s auto parts manufacturing in Mexico, positions him to potentially support Tom Zhu, who has taken on expanded responsibilities at Tesla, including supervision of US assembly plants, sales activities in North America and Europe, in addition to his existing role as China boss.
Michael Hildebrand
Another addition to Tesla’s management team is Michael Hildebrand, who joins from pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. Hildebrand has been appointed as the “Head of Gigafactory Nevada Expansion Engineering and Construction.” His role will encompass leading the expansion initiatives at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada, which encompasses the establishment of new production facilities for the 4680 battery cells and the Tesla Semi electric truck.
Michael Hildebrand
Org changes
Regarding organizational changes, Zachery Kirkhorn, Tesla’s chief financial officer (CFO) for four years, has announced his resignation. Kirkhorn, who has been with the company for a total of 13 years, will continue to assist with a seamless transition until the end of the year. Vaibhav Taneja, the current chief accountant, has been named as his successor.
These developments underline Tesla’s commitment to enhancing its production capabilities, refining manufacturing processes, and strategic personnel adjustments as part of its ongoing growth and innovation in the electric vehicle sector.
electrek.co, linkedin.com (Schmitt), electrek.co, linkedin.com (Hildebrand)
