Tesla Loses Another Key Leader: David Zhang Bids Farewell After 9 Years

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Key Takeaways

  • One of Tesla’s top vehicle program managers, David Zhang, bid the automaker a “belated” farewell.
  • Zhang joined Tesla in 2015 and has been in charge of the Model S/X and Cybertruck campaigns.
  • He hasn’t been at Tesla since July, but he confirmed his departure only yesterday.

David Zhang, one of Tesla’s top vehicle program managers, confirmed his departure from the firm after more than nine years with a LinkedIn post.

“It has been a privilege and an honor to have devoted myself to the mission,” Zhang’s post read, listing some favorite memories of his Tesla journey.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dfzhang_thank-you-and-belated-farewell-tesla-activity-7248049595048452097-UF6i

A chemical engineer with a background in business analysis, Zhang joined Tesla in 2015 to “lead business operations and finance for the automaker’s powertrain systems” before being promoted to lead full vehicle programs.

He was later in charge of the Model S and Model X programs from 2018 and managed the Model Y program during its launch between 2020 and 2021.

Zhang was also in charge of Tesla’s Cybertruck program from July 2021 to July 2022.

According to his LinkedIn, he was the “Roadster and Next Gen Vehicle Program Manager” from February 2023 until April 2024.

Zhang left Tesla in April, so this belated goodbye confirms his departure.

Tesla’s Year of Departures and Layoffs

The news comes hot on the heels of two other departures earlier this month.

Chief Information Officer Nagesh Saldi announced his departure from Tesla on October 3, just days before the company’s robotaxi event, though it’s unclear if he was laid off or left on his own.

Top European executive Jos Dings also bid the automaker farewell on October 4th after more than seven years with the company. Dings was Tesla’s Director of Public Policy and Business Development for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and he didn’t give a reason for his departure other than a wish to spend more time with family.

These high-profile departures follow a wave of company-wide layoffs between April and July this year, affecting almost every department at Tesla. Though the company planned to lay off around 10% of its 140,000-strong workforce, the layoffs were reportedly closer to 20%.