Tesla grants SVP Tom Zhu 520,021 options at $435.80 strike

An SEC filing disclosed on January 12 that Tesla granted Senior Vice President of Automotive Tom Zhu 520,021 stock options on January 8, 2026 at a $435.80 strike. The options vest monthly after a one-year cliff in April 2027. Electrek read the grant as a retention package for the automotive chief through the robotaxi and Cybertruck ramp.

• 520,021 options granted to Tom Zhu on January 8, 2026
• Strike price $435.80; face value of underlying shares about $226.6M
• First 1/48th vests April 5, 2027; fully vested by March 2031
• Time-based vesting with no performance conditions in the filing