Elon Musk on Saturday declared that Tesla will leave California “immediately,” and Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth believes the Yellowhammer State would be an ideal replacement as the automotive manufacturer’s base of operations.
Musk tweeted that California’s punitive restrictions during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are the “final straw.” Its core Fremont, CA, location has been barred from production recently. Musk also mentioned Texas and Nevada as the two contenders to replace California as Tesla’s headquarters/main manufacturing hub.
However, Alabama could beat out these states when it comes to supply chain, workforce, overall business climate and tax policy considerations.
In a social media post directed at Musk, Ainsworth said, “[W]e would love to have Tesla in Alabama. We have a tremendous workforce, a lot lower taxes than California, and our businesses are working safely.”
Alabama, in addition to leading the nation in ‘American-made’ automobile production, is currently ramping up its efforts to be on the cutting edge of the expected electric vehicle revolution. The Education Trust Fund budget passed by the legislature on Saturday includes the funding of EV charging stations on I-20 from Birmingham to the Georgia state line, as the latest example.
In addition to world-class economic conditions, Alabama is home to one city consistently ranked as one of America’s best places to live: Huntsville.
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Additionally, Birmingham has been referred to recently as the “Southern Silicon Valley,” and Montgomery and Mobile are among Alabama cities making 21st century revolutions of their own.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn