Tesla to Create ‘Ecological Paradise’ at New Austin HQ: Musk

Tesla’s decision moving its headquarters to Austin is “not a matter” of the automaker leaving California, CEO Elon Musk told his company’s annual meeting Thursday. “Ongoing public health requirements” and COVID-19 travel restrictions forced Tesla last month to convert the meeting to a “virtual-only format” originating from its Austin “gigafactory” from an in-person event at its Fremont, California, plant (see 2109260004). “We will be continuing to expand our activities in California,” Musk told shareholders. “Our intention is to actually increase output from Fremont” by 50%, he said. “If you go to our Fremont factory, it is jammed,” but there’s a “limit to how big you can scale in the Bay Area,” said the CEO. “Here in Austin, our factory’s like five minutes from the airport, 15 minutes from downtown. We’re going to create an ecological paradise here.” The move to Austin is effective immediately.