Tesla has recently been making headlines thanks most notably to its introduction of the Model 3 which now has over 400,000 pre-orders and its decision to ramp up production. The company's latest decision to hire industry veteran Peter Hochholdinger has only made Tesla even more prominent, at least in the eyes of auto enthusiasts.
When Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that he wanted to increase production of Tesla vehicles by 500,000 units come 2018, the move was called ambitious, to say the least. The company was not scheduled to reach such numbers until 2020 before the announcement. This is why Musk needed someone who had the experience to perform under immense pressure.
Hochholdinger will be vice-president of vehicle production for Tesla, and his premier task appears to be ensuring that the lofty goals of the company will be met. By all accounts, Hochholdinger seems to be right for the job.
Having 22 years of experience in the Audi production line, Hochholdinger built his career on consistently producing luxury vehicles within a demanding timeline. He played a significant role in the production of Audi A4, A5 and Q5 models during his tenure. In the process, Hochholdinger earned a reputation for being one of the best car executives in the business.
Now that he is with Tesla, opinions have also started to sway for the company instead of the unfavorable views held by many on Wall Street. Even so, investors are still nervous, particularly in light of the unfortunate developments with the car maker.
There is the loss of several key production executives to begin with, followed by recalls involving the Tesla Model X and Model S. Adding the 400,000 pre-orders for the Model 3 and the ramped up production numbers amid a shortened timeline has only made Hochholdinger's job even more challenging.
