By Mike Sunnucks | Rose Law Group Reporter
Elon Musk made plenty of waves over the weekend when he tweeted his intentions to move Tesla’s headquarters from California to Texas or Nevada over frustrations with COVID-19 closures in Alameda County.
Greater Phoenix Economic Council President and CEO Chris Camacho wants to make sure Arizona is in the mix for potential Tesla move out of California.
“Come join us in one of the fastest growing tech and engineering markets … Greater Phoenix. We’d be honored to have you,” Camacho said in a Twitter message to Musk this weekend.
Arizona was in the running for Tesla’s $5 billion electric battery gigafactory. Musk ended up landing the plant in Reno, Nevada with the help of major incentives. Texas, New Mexico and California were also in that site selection.
Musk is frustrated with California’s economic shutdown during COVID-19. That includes restrictions on opening Tesla production facilities in Fremont, California.
Musk took to Twitter Saturday to voice displeasure with California and said he was looking at move to Tesla’s base to Texas or Nevada.
“Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependent on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA,” Musk said on Twitter.
Texas, in particular, has been one of the more aggressive states in reopening its economy during COVID-19.
Musk previously called some of the COVID-19 restrictions and business closures “fascist”. Musk said over the weekend Tesla could take Alameda County, California to court over its COVID-19 shutdown policies. Musk is also the CEO of SpaceX, which is also based in California.
