Former Tesla Executive Joins General Motors to Drive Electric Vehicle Strategy

In a sign that the company has set its sight on the electric car market, General Motors hired former Tesla executive JP Clausen as its new Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability.  Clausen is replacing Gerald Johnson, who is retiring after 44 years. 

During his tenure at Tesla from 2015-19, Clausen served as Vice President of the company's first battery manufacturing plant, working closely with CEO Elon Musk and former CTO JB Straubel. During his tenure, Tesla grew from a niche car manufacturer to the leader in electronic car production. He most recently worked at Google as a vice president of engineering for the company’s Data Center Advanced Technology Innovation group.

Clausen's appointment isn't the only instance of former Tesla executives joining GM. Jon McNeill, former President of Global Sales and Service at Tesla, serves on GM's Board of Directors. Additionally, Kurt Kelty, who led Tesla's battery development for 11 years, recently joined GM as Vice President of Batteries.

GM is counting on these Tesla alumni to bolster its competitiveness in the electric vehicle market. However, despite these strategic hires, there remains much ground to cover. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Tesla captured 56% of all Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) sales in the country, indicating the significant lead it holds.

Straubel's hiring wasn't the only shakeup in GM's executive ranks. Executive Vice President of Software and Services Mike Abbott announced his resignation due to health reasons. Baris Cetinok, currently Vice President of Products in Software and Services, will step in as his interim replacement while GM searches for a permanent successor.