Tesla Motors unveils new car factory

By Ian Bell November 1, 2010

Tesla Motors has unveiled its new Tesla Factory in Fremont, California, where the electric car company said it will be building its Model S as well as future electric vehicles. This car plant was once the NUMMI factory, but closed in April of this year.

Tesla purchased the factory in May, saying its new plant “is the only auto assembly plant in California, and the first facility dedicated exclusively to the mass production of electric vehicles.” It is from here that the company plans to build its Model S electric premium sedan, which will include an optional extended-range battery pack to allow the vehicle to travel over 300 miles per charge.

Purchasing the plant was not a cheap offering for Tesla, with the San Francisco Chronicle reporting the price tag to be around $42 million. 500 workers will eventually be on-site building electric cars, with larger numbers planned for later. Tesla separately is developing an all-electric version of the RAV4 SUV with Toyota as well.

“This is a momentous day in Tesla history, turning our advanced electric vehicle technology into a mass manufacturing reality,” said Tesla CEO Elon Musk in a statement. “Model S is blazing a new trail for the industry and it will all happen right here – the Tesla Factory gives us plenty of room to grow.”

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