Career Path Of A Deputy Director Battery Manufacturing At Tesla Gotion
Mohamad's career path, driven by a passion for sustainability, started with a degree in sustainability from ASU, but a lack of immediate job opportunities led Mohamad to entrepreneurship before joining Tesla. This Tesla experience rapidly advanced Mohamad's career, involving management roles in launching several products, including the Model Y and the 4680 battery cell, ultimately culminating in Mohamad's current role as Deputy Director of Battery Manufacturing at Gotion High Tech, where they are instrumental in launching a new Gigafactory in the US – "Midway through May, I found a site. By June, we had started speaking to...the politicians involved."
Renewable Energy, Battery Manufacturing, Project Management, Leadership, Entrepreneurship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mohamad Ali Zeitoun
Deputy Director of Battery Manufacturing
Currently Gotion High Tech. Previously Tesla Battery manufacturing
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
None
Business & Related, International Relations & Affairs
Energy & Utilities
Business Strategy
Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Mohamad's journey highlights the importance of interdisciplinary studies. His background in sustainability encompassed engineering, mathematics, social sciences, and political aspects, demonstrating the broad skillset needed in this field.
2. His career progression showcases the value of adaptability. After facing initial job market challenges, he started his own businesses and strategically networked with companies like Tesla, eventually securing a role and quickly advancing into management.
3. Mohamad's experience with Tesla and Gotion High Tech underscores the global demand for battery manufacturing expertise. His involvement in launching multiple products and a gigafactory highlights the rapid growth and opportunities within this sector.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
I really wanted to get into sustainability because I was traveling overseas and found issues with power, water, and renewable energy. I searched for several schools before finding the ASU program in sustainability.
After being overseas for a couple of years, I returned to the States. I joined the sustainability degree program and loved my studies. We learned about engineering, mathematics, the social and political environment, and the ecosystems we interact with.
This made me more and more intrigued. The issue I faced was that jobs available were about ten years behind my knowledge, so I couldn't find employment after college. I started several businesses.
After a few different ventures, I decided to look for a job in my field. I reached out to Tesla from Michigan. They were interested but didn't have the exact position I was seeking, though they felt I could get there quickly.
I joined Tesla and within six months, I was in management and helped launch several products, including the Model Y. I then worked on the battery manufacturing plant and launched the first 4680 battery cell for Tesla.
After that, I moved to another building where we launched battery modules and packs for different trucks, including the Cybertruck, Model S, and Model X. This experience gave me a lot of knowledge in renewable energy, EVs, and batteries.
A Chinese company, Gotion, reached out to me. They were looking for someone to help them launch a factory in the US, a 40-gigawatt Gigafactory. I joined them in May 2023. Midway through May, I found a site.
By June, we were discussing the project with politicians. In July and August, we started working on launching the factory. By the end of the year, we bought the building and started purchasing equipment. We are now manufacturing products.