After announcing earlier this year that Tesla would build a new Gigafactory in the US to manufacture the upcoming Cybertruck (along with the other vehicles in Tesla’s lineup), the automaker has reportedly narrowed its search to two locations in the central US.
Citing unnamed sources, one outlet published Friday that Tesla had already decided on Austin, Texas as the new location, adding that Tesla CEO Elon Musk hopes to have the factory open and manufacturing Model Y‘s by the end of the year.
Additionally, CNBC reported that Tulsa, Oklahoma was still being considered as a potential location, also citing an unnamed source “intimately familiar” with the plans.
The case for Texas as being the next Gigafactory location grew stronger over the weekend after Dezmond Oliver posted on Twitter that the automaker had just completed the purchase of over 1,000 acres just outside of Hutto, which is about a 30 minute drive north of Austin.
Tesla bought over 1000 acres here. 80% sure this is where it will be. pic.twitter.com/K0M83eOwH4
— Dezmond Oliver (@dezmondOliver) May 16, 2020
If Hutto sounds familiar, that’s because they also put in a bid in 2014 to house what would eventually become Giga Nevada, Tesla’s battery factory. The plot of land is also located adjacent to a rail line, which could be used by Tesla to move parts and vehicles in and out of the factory.
There have been a number of contenders trying to vye for Musk’s attention to land the massive investment that would come with the construction of a Gigafactory. One of the more interesting proposals that went straight to Musk’s heart with memes, was for a “Big F*cking Field” in …Tulsa.
