On the evening of April 28th, the online themed lecture Tesla – Unlocking the Smart New Era, hosted by the Alumni and Corporate Relations Office of the School of Economics and Management at Tongji University, achieved complete success.

Angela Tao Qi, General Manager of Enterprise Customer Sales for Tesla China, served as the keynote speaker. With full enthusiasm, rich materials, and multi-dimensional explanations, Ms. Angela delivered a knowledge feast full of intellectual exchanges and ideological collisions to over 500 audiences.

The event was hosted by Ms. Cheng Guoping, Assistant to the Dean of the School of Economics and Management at Tongji University, and commented by Professor Zheng Xin from the Department of Marketing of the College. The event officially kicked off after Ms. Cheng Guoping’s brief and powerful opening remarks.

Professor Xie En, Associate Dean of the School of Economics and Management at Tongji University, delivered a speech for the event. In his address, he stated:

“Every era has its iconic enterprises. There is no doubt that in the current era of smart connectivity, Tesla continues to provide new research topics for management studies through its forward-looking technologies, innovative business models, and more. Tesla has single-handedly propelled new energy vehicles to become the mainstream development direction in the automotive industry. I believe everyone is eager to know what new developments, initiatives, and actions Tesla will take in the future. Tonight, Ms. Angela Tao Qi’s lecture will surely inspire us all.”

In the keynote speech session, Ms. Angela Tao Qi revealed Tesla’s core advantages and development vision from four aspects: “Tesla’s Unwavering Mission, Tesla’s Secret Grand Plan, Global Direct Sales Business Model, and Machines Manufacturing Machines.”

At the end of the lecture, Ms. Angela Tao Qi also welcomed the faculty and students of Tongji University’s School of Economics and Management to visit the Shanghai Gigafactory after the pandemic, so as to gain on-site understanding and personal experience of Tesla’s advanced craftsmanship, manufacturing processes, and corporate culture.

After the keynote speech, Professor Zheng Xin had an in-depth exchange with Ms. Angela Tao Qi on Tesla’s product definition, direct sales model, and used car strategy, which ignited the enthusiasm of online audiences for asking questions.

Q: In Tesla’s corporate culture, there is an emphasis on “the courage to solve difficult problems.” Was the implementation process not smooth sailing? What obstacles has Tesla encountered, and how were they addressed?

A: Our logic for solving all challenges is rooted in the first – principles thinking—that is, identifying the most fundamental scientific reasons behind issues. We tackle problems from a scientific perspective and believe that thinking along the lines of physics can help us find the optimal path. Another crucial factor is our firm corporate values and culture. Inspired by this atmosphere, every Tesla employee is highly motivated, driven by purpose, and focused on clear goals.

Q: What do you see as the biggest threat that could constrain Tesla’s development or impact it in the future?

A: How Tesla will develop in the future depends on whether we have enough resolve, and whether we can continue to adhere to the path we believe is right in the face of difficulties, setbacks, challenges, and skepticism.

Q: You mentioned earlier the goal of building an Olympic-level team. What specific methods do you use to achieve this?

A: First, we set benchmarks. We select top performers in sales, customer service, and used car replacement services to share their approaches, and then the team learns from their best practices. Second, we foster a learning culture. The team regularly organizes sessions to study the latest tech updates, cutting-edge technologies, and revisits product knowledge to gain new insights from review. Finally, it’s crucial that everyone on the team shares strong core values. We love the company and our work, and are willing to dedicate our youth and passion to it. This is how a team with emotion, love, and passion—an Olympic-level team—is formed.