Tesla's Shanghai "Gigafactory" is undergoing significant personnel changes as Chinese media reports indicate that Gang Song, the site's director and VP of manufacturing, has departed to pursue a position in the green energy industry with Envision Group.
Rumors had circulated regarding Song's recruitment by Xiaomi Auto; however, Xiaomi has refuted these claims.
Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory delivered 675,000 vehicles in the first three quarters of this year, which was more than half of Tesla's global deliveries, according to statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). The Shanghai Gigafactory director is regarded as the second most important position within Tesla's operations in China, following that of SVP Tom Zhu.
Song reportedly submitted his resignation several months ago, and his final day of employment at Tesla was December 18. Additionally, reports indicate that Wenjin Fei, the senior director of automotive and parts quality, will assume his position.
Song was one of the initial employees of Tesla's Shanghai facility, joining in 2018 following prior employment at Ford Motor and General Motors. Upon joining Tesla, he prioritized local production and effectively led the Model Y localization initiatives. The supply chain at Tesla's Shanghai facility is currently over 95% localized. On October 11, 2024, the Shanghai factory manufactured its third millionth automobile.
Speculation surrounds Xiaomi's attempt to recruit Song
Market speculation is that Xiaomi, recognized for its talent acquisition tactics, seeks to hire him.
Given Xiaomi's current situation, hiring a director from Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory may be viewed as a wise option. Xiaomi's Gigafactory in Beijing's E-Town aims to produce 300,000 cars per year, with the second phase now under construction and set to commence production in July 2025. Following the start of operations at the new gigafactory, additional time will be required to expand production capacity.
Xiaomi Auto has already garnered attention for its rapid workforce expansion, with CEO Lei Jun frequently participating in recruitment campaigns. Recent high-profile departures from major manufacturers, such as Geely Auto, where over 20 executives departed in total, and critical positions such as the chief of strategic planning at BAIC BluePark, have all been associated with Xiaomi. After Song's departure, there was speculation in the industry that he would join Xiaomi Motors.
These rumors were promptly refuted by Xiaomi's public relations department.
Recent speculation suggests that Song will affiliate with the Envision Group rather than Xiaomi Auto. According to the Chinese media outlet Jiemian, Song is anticipated to join Envision Energy, although the company's human resources system has yet to acknowledge his position.
Envision Group began with wind power and now comprises subsidiaries specializing in power batteries, wind energy, and green hydrogen.
