Tesla has announced it will spend $3.6 billion to build a production site for semi-trucks and cell batteries.
Tesla already has a production plant in Nevada, the 5.4 million square foot Gigafactory. This factory produces lithium-ion batteries and other electric vehicle parts.
Since 2014, Tesla has invested $6.2 billion in Nevada, producing 7.3 billion battery cells, 1.5 million battery packs, 3.6 million drive units, and 1 million energy modules while hiring more than 11,000 team members to carry out this work.
Tesla released a blog post that confirmed its plans to expand the Gigafactory. These plans include adding two new production sites, a 100 GWh 4680 cell factory that will produce enough batteries for 1.5 million light-duty vehicles annually, and its first high-volume semi-truck factory.
On Monday night, in his first State of the State address, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo spoke about the factories.
“I am looking forward to joining Elon Musk and the team at Tesla tomorrow when they unveil plans to build a brand new $3.5 billion advanced manufacturing facility in northern Nevada for the company’s all-electric semi-trucks,” said Lombardo, as reported by Yahoo Finance.
Lombardo did not offer further comments on the topic and has not responded to The Dallas Express’ request for more information.
The White House also confirmed these reports and announced that Tesla would be building the factory just east of Sparks, Nevada, as reported by Yahoo Finance.
“This announcement is the latest in more than $300 billion in private sector investment in clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing announced since the President took office,” said Mitch Landrieu, President Joe Biden’s infrastructure chief, in a statement, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“It will create more than 3,000 good-paying jobs in Nevada helping America lead in clean energy manufacturing, strengthening our energy security, and ultimately lowering costs for families,” Landrieu added.
In October, Musk told analysts that Tesla would ramp up production for these trucks in 2023, and they hope to produce 50,000 units in North America by 2024.
Last month, Tesla delivered its first semi-trucks to Frito-Lay, which is now using the trucks at a distribution site in California.
Tesla has yet to respond to requests for more information from The Dallas Express.