Tesla Renovating Shuttered Distribution Facility In Central Valley
LATHROP, San Joaquin County (CBS SF) -- Electric car manufacturer Tesla is taking over a vacant distribution facility in the Central Valley town of Lathrop, according to a published report.
The City of Lathrop confirmed a report in the Manteca Bulletin that Palo Alto-based Tesla has started renovations on a 431,000 square foot facility that used to be a Daimler-Chrysler distribution center.
Lathrop City Manager Steve Salvatore told the Bulletin the permits were for "manufacturing modifications" and that work has already begun on overhauling the facility, which was used for parts distribution and shuttered in 2009.
Job listings on the Tesla website show it will be mainly used as a computer numerical control (CNC) and machining facility.
It would also appear to be too small for the company's $5 billion planned "gigafactory" to make advanced lithium-ion batteries.
Tesla has said it is looking at four states - Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas – as sites for the gigafactory which would employ some 6,500 workers.
