Tesla Motors is reported to be considering an 850ha site in Texas for its second Gigafactory in the US.
The company has filed papers with state authorities stating its interest in buying a ready-mix concrete plant in the southeast of Austin, the state’s capital.
The Californian car maker is intending to build a factory to assemble its Cybertruck – a pick-up vehicle that is still in development, as well as a version of its Model Y.
Tesla has made an application to a Travis County school district seeking a tax abatement. In the documents it says it is “evaluating the possible development, design, and construction of an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Travis County”.
Tesla’s proposed 450,000 sq m plant would employ some 5,000 workers and become its fourth, joining Gigafactories in California, Shanghai and, beginning next year, Berlin.
Tesla originally considered eight states for the factory, and in effect invited their governments to compete to offer the most attractive tax breaks and other incentives. These can be considerable – Nevada offered $1.3bn in tax breaks for the company’s battery plant.
The indications from the company are that the decision has come down to Austin and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Tesla has also threatened to move its headquarters to Texas after a public fight with the state government of California over Tesla’s plans to restart production at its Fremont plant despite a coronavirus lockdown.
Construction of the Gigafactory is due to start in the third quarter of 2020.
Image: Tesla’s image of its Cybertruck
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