Tesla Seeks Tax Breaks For Potential Austin-Area Plant

AUSTIN, TX — The electric carmaker Tesla is exploring the possibility of building a manufacturing facility in the Austin region, according to reports.

An application filed with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — a copy of which was obtained by Patch on Thursday — details the plans. The application seeks a tax break on land situated within the Del Valle ISD taxing jurisdiction to jump-start construction after its purchase of 2,100 acres of land for $5 million.

The electric vehicle manufacturing facility (dubbed a Gigfactory) would be located on acreage at the intersection of State Highway 130 and Harold Green Road, according to the application. California-based Tesla seeks some $68 million in tax incentives over the course of ten years to build the plant that would encompass up to 5 million square feet to build the next version of the carmaker's Model Y electric car, officials told regulators.

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Company CEO Elon Musk has expressed interest in building a plant in Texas in the past. The news site Electrek was the first to report on the new plant search, reporting in mid-May that the company sough a location for a Tesla Gigafactory, also known as a Terafactory, to be located within the city or near its vicinity. Those familiar with the project said company chief Elon Musk has directed the Gigafactory Nevada engineering team to launch the process for the Austin-area factory, according to the report.