Seeing the future of cleantech, Christina looked at Tesla, which was at a critical growth stage and needed more capital and expanded production capacity and her understanding of China’s Thirteenth Five-Year Automobile Industry Development Future Plan's sustainability goal to build a zero-carbon automobile industry ecology system, she saw a potential strategic fit.
So in 2016, she spearheaded a partnership proposal between the city of Wuhan and Tesla, which would bring manufacturing jobs and investment to China and raise immediate capital and operational funds as well as access to the Chinese automobile market for Tesla.
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The partnership provides an unparalleled ability to accelerate the creation of sustainable transport by leveraging large-scale urban infrastructure investment.
Christina providing simultaneous interpretation for Ira Ehrenpreis on Tesla’s mission, which is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy, and double bottom line investment, in Atheron, CA. Ira is a Tesla Board of Director, Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Chairman of the Compensation Committee.
Christina reviewing Tesla proposal with David Pong, DSD Director and Executive Director of Shiu Wing Steel Limited of Hong Kong, and Jillian Manus, Tesla Early Investor and Managing Partner of Structure Capital of San Francisco in Atheron, CA.
In 2016, Christina saw where cleantech was headed and identified an enormous opportunity and strategic fit for Tesla to reach its next growth stage and China to take a huge stride towards its cleantech and EV goals and much-needed auto industry transformation in Wuhan.
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Wuhan, which is one of the largest automobile manufacturing cities in China, was a perfect fit for the proposal, with a well-established supply base, world-class university, and an experienced workforce of automotive talent. Its location was also beneficial, being in Hubei province, which houses one of China's largest clean energy hydro-power plants by the Three Gorges Dam. Taking quick action, she spearheaded a Tesla China Manufacturing and Investment (PIPE) proposal, presented to Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the Tesla Board, that would bring manufacturing jobs and investment to China and raise immediate capital and operational funds as well as access to the Chinese automobile market for Tesla.
In addition to manufacturing and financial investment, the proposal included:
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Off-take agreement of Tesla vehicles.
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First mover advantage into “smart city” in Wuhan with expansion to Yangtze River economic belt cities in China.
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Accelerated ability to produce fully-autonomous electric vehicles given infrastructure investment into citywide network.
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Diversified revenue streams from “Three networks (smart grid, intelligent charging stations, and intelligent transportation network) and one car" ecosystem.
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Sustainable energy from Wind, Hydro, and Solar.
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Auto financing, leasing, and insurance arrangement and licensing. ​
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Christina conducted due diligence on Tesla by talking to key stakeholders and reviewing financials, and on Wuhan's manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem by conducting site visits to the city of Wuhan's Economic and Technological Development Zone and Wuhan EV Demonstration company, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Company Ltd, Dongfeng Honda Automobile Company Ltd. This allowed her to understand the future direction of Tesla and China's EV policy implementation and ensure interests were aligned among Tesla, investors, and the government. The goal was to create a final proposal that would deliver value to Tesla at a key inflection point for the company while simultaneously delivering value to the proposed site of Wuhan.
She consulted with individual and institutional investors, policymakers, and subject matter experts at multiple levels of government to create a compelling strategic plan and mutually beneficial proposal that would be most attractive and convincing to Tesla and investors of the proposed site and partnership.
Under the invitation of Wang Yong, Mayor of Wuhan, Christina presented the investment and manufacturing proposal to Wuhan municipal government in Wuhan, China. Pictured: Wuhan Deputy Mayor in charge of the auto industry, Xu Honglan; Director of Wuhan Economic and information commission Dang Zhen; Wuhan Automobile Industry Development Office Director Li Linqing; and DSD Group (Investor) Directors Dong Haitao and Christina Zhu-Weaver.
Guo Liang (left), General Manager of Wuhan Electric Vehicle Demonstration Operation Company, sharing with Christina (right) and Jillian Manus, Tesla Early Investor (middle), on EV operations and monitoring in Wuhan.
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Utilizing her financial and business expertise, she structured financing and built a strategic framework, providing access to high-level business leaders and senior officials in the exploratory process, facilitating meetings, and providing simultaneous interpretation for industry experts, investors, Tesla representatives, and government officials, and agencies.
Christina facilitated dialogue with officials from the China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Deputy Governor of Hubei Province, Director Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, Director of Wuhan Economy, Information Technology Commission, and Wuhan Automobile Industry Development Office.
Christina Discussing manufacturing site selection and local EV incentives policy with Hu Yabo, Chairman of Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, Chairman of Hannan District of Wuhan.
Christina meeting with Antoine Meyer, Vice President of PSA Group (Peugeot S.A.) and his colleagues and representatives from Dongfeng Motor Company Limited Wuhan.
Signing Ceremony between (in front) Christina Zhu-Weaver, DSD Director and Zhang Zhi, Director of Qiaokou District District People's Government, Wuhan to commemorate the establishment of the Industrial Investment Fund, which was as a part of investment (PIPE) offering to Tesla. Pictured (left-to-right): Party Secretary of the Qiaokou District, Director of Wuhan Automobile Industry Development Office, Director Wuhan Economic and Information Commission, DSD Group Limited (Investor).