Nikola Motor Company, a hydrogen-electric semi truck manufacturer competing with Tesla’s all-electric long-hauler, has acquired approximately 400 acres of prime development land of an up-and-coming vehicle manufacturing hub in Pinal County, Arizona. Nikola declared the geographic location of the centre earlier this year that’s expected to bring an estimated $1 billion in economic stimulus to the region by 2024.
Nikola estimates that the project will create approximately 2,000 jobs to the region in addition to facilitate thousands of additional jobs due to its presence via other providers coming into the region. “Imagine what it will do for land values, schools, parks, and other city improvements…[Nikola] will be a massive benefit to [Pinal County’s City of] Coolidge and the surrounding regions for decades to come,” Trevor Milton, CEO of Nikola Motors, said in a business press release announcing the purchase.
The acquired acreage for Nikola’s semi truck production facility is at the Inland Port Arizona (IPA) part of Heritage, an 11,438 acre prime development site owned by Saint Holdings, LLC. IPA itself is described as a nearly 3,000 acre “manufacturing mega website ” located in the Central Arizona Corridor between Tucson and Phoenix and now served with the Union Pacific Rail Line, based on Saint Holdings’ IPA advertising brochure.
The Nikola Two hydro-electric semi truck. | Credit: Nikola
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Nikola’s partnership with Saint Holdings seems to benefit both companies in their endeavors to expand the automotive industry in Arizona and provide value to the regions where their companies are located. “When we set out to create a mill, a part of my vision was to help an entire community,” Milton remarked. Tom Stringer, the practice leader who lead the national site selection process for Nikola, echoed Milton’s sentiments as applied to the industry benefits. “Nikola’s vehicles and market vision coupled with Saint Holdings’ world-class production destination has created the perfect economic growth engine for the new automotive industry in Arizona,” he remarked.
Nikola’s initial trucks will be built by Fitzgerald Glider Kits while its Arizona manufacturing facility is under construction. First in line for production is the Nikola One sleeper followed by the Nikola Two day taxi. A Nikola Tre for the European market is also being developed for manufacturing throughout the 2022-2023 timeframe previously set forth for the U.S. versions. The trucks’ hydro-electric engines create 2,000lbs.-ft torque and 1,000 hp with a 320 kWh battery that’s estimated to provide 500-1,200 miles of range depending on load.
Follow us @Teslarati for behind the scenes coverage from Nikola World, taking place on April 16-17 in Scottsdale. We’ll be bringing you a first look at Nikola’s upcoming all-electric Semi-truck.
The article Tesla Semi rival Nikola purchases 400 acres in AZ for manufacturing facility appeared first on TESLARATI.
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