Song Gang, a key figure at Tesla Shanghai, is reportedly set to leave the company this week, as per a report by Bloomberg. Song, who was the No. 1 employee at Giga Shanghai, played a crucial role in overseeing the construction of Tesla’s Shanghai factory.
Fei Wenjin, who was recently promoted to senior director from director of quality, will temporarily take over Song’s responsibilities, according to sources.
Having joined Tesla Shanghai in December 2018, Song Gang holds the title of vice president of manufacturing and has an impressive background in the automotive industry. Prior to his time at Tesla, he worked with renowned car companies such as General Motors, Ford, and Zhidou Electrical Vehicle.
Song’s LinkedIn profile reflects his ambitious goals, stating, “Now I am leading the 1st Mega factory project outside US, aiming to build the No. 1 energy product factory in the world.”
After contributing to business planning for factory construction and potential facilities at Tesla US, Song returned to Shanghai to lead the construction of Tesla’s Megapack battery factory. The Megapack factory, set to commence production in the first quarter of 2025, marks Tesla’s first energy storage facility outside the US and represents a significant investment in China.
Meanwhile, local media outlet LatePost reported that Song had submitted his resignation letter months ago, with December 18 being his last day at Tesla Shanghai. Sources suggest that Song intends to join an emerging local car brand facing capacity constraints, although the brand’s name was not disclosed.
Giga Shanghai stands as Tesla’s largest factory worldwide, boasting an annual capacity of around 1 million units. The factory produces the popular Model 3 sedan and Model Y, serving both local customers and acting as an export hub for Tesla.
In November, Tesla’s Shanghai plant shipped 78,856 vehicles, contributing to cumulative shipments of 822,894 units from January to November. Notably, Tesla’s China deliveries in November reached 73,490 vehicles, with January-November figures totaling 574,175 vehicles, marking an 8.77 percent year-on-year increase.
The Shanghai factory also exported 5,366 vehicles in November, bringing total January-November exports to 248,719 vehicles, a decrease of 23.65 percent year-on-year, according to data from CnEVPost.
As Song Gang prepares to bid farewell to Tesla Shanghai, his departure marks a significant transition for the company’s operations in China. The legacy he leaves behind at Giga Shanghai will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on Tesla’s presence in the region.
