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Tesla Snatches Top Audi Executive to Oversee the Model 3 Production Efforts

Like all the other EV making companies that are starting to form all over the place, Tesla needs to match its physical expansion with a similar one regarding its human resources. Over the past year, several important figures from the automotive industry have recognized the future is probably electric and have jumped ships, and on Friday, the Palo Alto company announced another marquee signing.
Tesla Model 3 7 photos
Photo: Screenshot from model3config.com
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After Musk convinced the interior designer of Porsche Mission E's interior to join Tesla earlier in April, another ex-employee of the Volkswagen Group is going to join the growing ranks of the company. His name is Peter Hochholdinger, and during his time at Audi he was in charge with the production of the A4, A5, and Q5 models, which added to around 400,000 units per year - close to the number Tesla aims to make by 2018.

At Tesla, Hochholdinger will occupy the position of Vice President of Vehicle Production (that's VP of VP, in case you missed it), where he will be responsible with "continuing to increase and improve Model S and Model X production, as well as help build a scalable, cost-effective and quality manufacturing program specifically designed for Model 3." Here is the full official statement released by the company:

"Peter Hochholdinger is joining Tesla as VP of Vehicle Production. At Tesla, Peter will be responsible for continuing to increase and improve Model S and Model X production, as well as help build a scalable, cost-effective and quality manufacturing program specifically designed for Model 3.

Peter joins Tesla from Audi where he has spent the last 22 years working across the entire production chain. He is currently responsible for leading the production of Audi’s A4, A5 and Q5 vehicles, including 14 derivatives of those models, at Audi’s flagship production facility for volume and technology. In total, Peter is responsible for the production of about 400,000 vehicles annually at Audi while managing thousands of employees. Peter has also been serving as an advisor for bringing Audi’s new production facility online in Mexico, guiding the implementation of the production processes that are responsible for the standard of quality expected at Audi.

Tesla is excited to have Peter join the team.
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This is the latest in a series of signings that have got to make the established car manufacturers wonder what exactly it is that makes so many people leave for Tesla. Do they have cookies or something? I guess we all know the real answer: these people want a new challenge, and they want to be part of the new wave that's going to change the landscape of the automotive industry. And the wages are probably not too shabby either.

This news comes to offer some closure on the recent departure of two people with rather important positions within the company: Greg Reichow, vice president of production, and Josh Ensign, vice president of manufacturing.
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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