Tesla has taken a clear step to secure long term leadership by extending the contract of Tom Zhu, one of the company’s most important operators. A recent Form 4 filing confirms that Tesla has signed Zhu to a new five year agreement, keeping him in place through 2031.
Tesla’s SEC Form 4 filing fully confirms the core facts around Tom Zhu’s long-term lock-in, with precise numbers and dates that align with the earlier report.
The filing shows the reporting person as Zhu Xiaotong, which is Tom Zhu’s legal name. The issuer is Tesla, Inc. (TSLA), and the transaction date is January 8, 2026, with the filing officially signed on January 12, 2026. Zhu is listed as an Officer, with the title SVP, confirming his Senior Vice President role.
The award is a non-qualified stock option, not restricted stock. The option grant totals 520,021 shares, matching the reported figure of “about 520,000 shares.” The strike price is clearly listed as $435.80 per share, confirming that the options only have value if Tesla’s stock rises materially above current levels.
The expiration date of the option is January 8, 2036, giving the award a full ten-year lifespan. However, the vesting schedule confirms the “golden handcuffs” structure. The explanatory note states that 1/48th of the shares vest on April 5, 2027, with 1/48th vesting each month thereafter, meaning the award becomes fully vested in March 2031. This directly confirms the five-year service requirement that effectively locks Zhu into Tesla through 2031.
The filing also confirms that Zhu holds the options directly, not through a trust or intermediary, and that this was an acquisition, not a sale or transfer. No cash was paid for the options, with the price listed as $0.00, which is standard for executive option grants.
According to Tesla’s official website, Tom Zhu has served as Senior Vice President, Automotive since April 2023. He joined Tesla in April 2014 and held several operational roles before being appointed Vice President of Greater China. In that role, he led the construction and operations of Gigafactory Shanghai, which later became one of Tesla’s most productive and cost efficient factories globally. Zhu holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce with a focus on information technology from Auckland University of Technology and an MBA from Duke University.
Zhu is widely viewed inside the company as Tesla’s key execution leader. He oversees global vehicle production, sales, and delivery operations, placing him at the center of Tesla’s core automotive business. His operational discipline and ability to scale factories quickly have made him one of the most trusted leaders within Tesla.
His track record is especially notable in China. During Covid lockdowns, Zhu stayed at the Shanghai factory for extended periods to help restart production. Under his leadership, the plant recovered rapidly and drove strong output growth, helping Tesla stabilize global supply during a difficult period.
In recent months, Zhu has split his time between China and the United States. Reports place him at Gigafactory Texas and Gigafactory California, where Tesla is ramping Model Y production, managing the refreshed Model 3, and preparing for broader Cybertruck and Full Self Driving expansion. His renewed focus on China also comes as Tesla faces increasing competition and prepares for deeper FSD deployment in that market.
By locking Zhu in for another five years with a performance based equity package, Tesla is signaling long term confidence in its operating leadership. The move adds stability at the top as the company scales autonomy, manufacturing, and global delivery operations simultaneously.
Source: Tesla Form 4 filing, Tesla website
