Tesla Could Repurpose an Old Nuclear Plant
Tesla currently has no plans to open an assembly plant in Europe, but a lot of countries would welcome the Californian manufacturer.
In a recent declaration, the French Minister of Energy and Environment Ségolène Royal laid out a very unique plan for giving a new life to the Fessenheim nuclear plant.
- Also: Exclusive: Tesla Model S P90D: A High-Speed 5- or 7-Seat Electric Rocket Ship
- Also: The Car Guide Visits Tesla’s Factory
Built in 1979, it is the oldest French nuclear plant still in activity. After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, the country decided to close the plant in 2017 for safety reasons. According to reports, one of the reactor’s integrity was compromised in 2014, which motivated the decision to close the plant earlier than planned.
Thing is, this plant currently employs 2000 people. To prevent massive job losses in the area, Mme Royal would like it if Tesla could come in and use the Fessenheim buildings to build electric cars.
For now, Fremont’s assembly plant is currently building all Teslas. However, with the massive influx of Model 3 pre-orders, Tesla might be thinking about opening a new factory… and using an old nuclear plant would be perfect for Tesla’s marketing!
- Check out our Tesla Zone
- More information about Tesla's new Model 3
