Is Tesla Relocating To Texas?

AUSTIN, TX — Amid the doldrums of new coronavirus and its attendant tactics of self-isolation, Tesla CEO Elon Musk over the weekend set off excitement across Texas by tweeting plans to move his company's headquarters from Nevada to the Lone Star State.

The business titan on Saturday posted on Twitter that his plans to move the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company's headquarters would occur "immediately" in response to Alameda County officials' advising him that Tesla must remain closed until June 1 in adherence to physical distancing to blunt the spread of illness.

Musk isn't pleased with the coronavirus-induced directive, filing a lawsuit against the county while categorizing the interim health officer making the call as "ignorant" in his tweet. “Frankly, this is the final straw,” Musk wrote on Twitter. “Telsa will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependen [sic] on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA.”

Musk has teased in the past about eyeing Texas for relocation and/or business expansion. In early February, he set off speculation with the mere act of cryptically changing the location of his Twitter account to Austin from California. Days later, his call for Texas roofers to install his solar panels across the state sparked visions of a jobs windfall.

"Tesla is ramping up Solar Roof installation across the USA!" Musk wrote at the time of the latter tweet while inviting Texas roofers to prepare for installation work of his proprietary product. "Training will be provided, so no prior experience needed," he added tantalizingly.

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And yet, his latest tweet has generated equal parts buzz and attention across the state. No less a figure than Gov. Greg Abbott caught wind of the Musk musings, retweeting the empresario's tweet while employing an emoji featuring eyes as if to suggest he's keeping his eye on the potential development even while offering wordless commentary.

If the relocation were to materialize, it would (needless to say) be a major economic boon for the Lone Star State. And it would represent a much-needed shot in the arm for the coronavirus-stilled Texas economy that Abbott began to slowly reopen via a series of executive orders two weeks ago allowing for piecemeal business openings.

Even on the best of days, it's challenging to decipher the enigmatic and mercurial Musk mind. All we can say is hope for the best, and stay tuned.