Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been a vocal skeptic of California’s stay-at-home orders, is considering opening his new manufacturing plant to Austin, Texas, according to unnamed sources.
On Friday, rumors began to swirl that Musk had selected Austin and Tulsa, Oklahoma, as finalists for the location of his new factory after weeks of attacking a restrictive lockdown order that has shuttered businesses across California.
Tesla officials previously confirmed that they hoped to build a factory in the heartland, but state officials in Texas skirted questions posed by reporters on Friday after the news outlet Electrek, which specializes in sustainable energy industries, reported that Austin would be the location of Tesla’s new plant.
“My answer here is the same as when I was asked about rumors concerning Amazon, which is I never comment on this kind of question,” Austin Mayor Steve Adler told the American-Statesman after the news broke.
Similarly, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other senior state officials were mum on Friday about the rumors. Abbott did address the question earlier in the week, however, saying that it would be a great “opportunity” for Tesla and Texas.
“I’ve had the opportunity to talk to Elon Musk, and he’s genuinely interested in Texas and genuinely frustrated with California. We’ve just got to wait and see how things play out,” Abbott said.
Musk has been locked into a verbal battle with California officials that threatened to close the Tesla manufacturing plant in Fremont. Musk reopened the factory despite orders to stay closed and said he was willing to be arrested because of it.
The South African entrepreneur has repeatedly criticized what he alleges is government overreach during the coronavirus pandemic and earlier this week said he was considering moving to Texas in response to California’s burdensome restrictions.
