In a significant development, Tesla has commenced preparations for the establishment of its manufacturing facility in Mexico. Operating through its subsidiary, Tesla Manufacturing Mexico, the company has formally submitted requests for the initial environmental permits to the Mexican Ministry of the Environment. These permits pertain to the initial phase of the factory’s construction, focused on the creation of a warehouse.
Reportedly, Tesla’s application outlined a sprawling plant encompassing 260 hectares, although the precise allocation of this expanse for the initial stage and the overall project remains unspecified.
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The inaugural stage of the project, which includes the construction of the warehouse, is estimated to incur an investment of approximately $90 million. Tesla’s official announcement regarding the factory’s location in the Nuevo León state of Mexico was made in early March. Initial discussions revolved around a substantial investment of $5 billion and a projected annual production capacity of one million electric vehicles.
Notably, the application for the environmental permit reveals that the warehouse’s intended site is currently characterized by vegetation types identified as “Rosetophyllus desert scrub and Microphyllus desert scrub.”
Observable indications suggest that Tesla might have already obtained the initial permits, as various Mexican media sources have reported the presence of construction equipment on the site. In a recent social media post, construction machinery was spotted near the Saltillo road junction with Monterrey’s peripheral ring road. The activity appears to mark the commencement of foundational efforts for the first building, intended to serve as the administrative center of the Santa Catarina plant.
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According to sources closely aligned with Tesla’s supply chain, the automaker aims to have the Mexican factory operational by the first quarter of 2025. While this information has originated from Chinese suppliers, it is yet to be officially corroborated.
Tesla has yet to provide formal commentary on the precise commencement of construction or the anticipated start of production. However, speculations have surfaced, suggesting that the factory might potentially commence operations in the latter half of 2024. Earlier this year, Tesla executive Tom Zhu disclosed tentative plans for production to initiate in Mexico by late 2024 or early 2025.
