Elon Musk Spotted In UK Seeking Site For New Tesla Gigafactory

Musk spent two days in the UK which has caused many to wonder whether Tesla will actually go through with building a plant over there. Musk has also spent time in Germany as he tries to get approval to produce cars out of Giga Berlin.

Musk was previously skeptical about expanding into the UK

Musk was previously apprehensive to invest much into the UK because of concerns over Brexit. There were possible plans to build a Gigafactory in the UK being discussed in late 2019, but Musk ultimately decided to divert his resources from the UK to Berlin. The British government was disappointed by this move from Tesla because they had hoped to have a plant be built to create jobs. It seems that these concerns could be a thing of the past if Tesla is really going to build a plant in the UK.

What the UK can do to lure Tesla in

Tesla has received tax breaks to build some of their other Gigfactories. The British government could do the same for Musk if they think it will get his attention.

Why the UK needs Tesla

Ministers in the UK are helping to find possible sites for the Gigafactory. Britain is in need of a company that can produce batteries as well as electric cars, and Tesla fits that description. However, there are other EV startups and battery makers looking to enter the British market. Demand for batteries is projected to go up a lot, so Tesla would be a great company that could contribute in the UK.

Tesla entering the British market is still up in the air

One of the most important takeaways from all this is that Tesla’s future in the UK is still up the air. No formal plans have been made to build a Gigafactory. The British government might have to roll out the red carpet for Musk to want to build a factory according to some sources. For example, Tesla seemed very serious about entering the Indian market. Tesla seemed to want to build their brand from the ground up in India. It would be interesting to know what Musk’s motivations are to build a new Gigafactory in the UK. Musk has been frustrated with the speed of the process when it comes to launching Giga Berlin, so he could be using this time filled with uncertainty to try to get a factory planned in the UK.

Image:Tesla

Daniel Cappo reports Tesla developments at Torque News. He has had a passion for cars ever since age five when his grandparents let him drive their old golf cart around their property in Upstate NY. He has attended numerous auto shows, and even got the chance to drive a Ferrari California on the track. Ever since Tesla opened up a dealership at his local mall, he's been an avid follower of their cars and technology. Dan has a B.S. in Public Communication from U Vermont. Follow Daniel on Twitter and LinkedIn for daily Tesla News.