Nikola Motor Company, a hydrogen-electric truck company, announced Tuesday it will build a $1 billion truck manufacturing plant in Arizona.
The company revealed that construction of the 500-acre Phoenix-area facility would begin in 2019 and production would start in 2021, adding that the plant would create an estimated 2,000 jobs and more than $1 billion in investment in the area, Fox Business reported.
Nikola, which is currently based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, primarily makes hydrogen-electric vehicles and hydrogen fueling stations.
Trevor Milton, Nikola’s founder and CEO, said the company looked at nine states and 30 potential factory locations before deciding on the west side Phoenix location.
“Arizona has the workforce to support our growth and a governor that was an entrepreneur himself. They understood what 2,000 jobs would mean to their cities and state,” Milton told the Phoenix Business Journal. “We will begin transferring our R&D and headquarters to Arizona immediately and hope to have the transition completed by October 2018.”
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said he was “proud” Nikola selected the state to produce technology that would “revolutionize transportation.”
“Nikola Motor Company’s selection of Arizona demonstrates that we are leading the charge when it comes to attracting innovative, industry-disrupting companies,” said Ducey in a statement. “This incredible new technology will revolutionize transportation, and we’re very proud it will be engineered right here in Arizona.”
The plant would become one of the largest manufacturers of alternative fuel-powered next generation semi rigs, according to the company, which announced that it has already received 8,000 pre-orders for its semi trucks.
Reuters reported that Nikola would share the costs of building the $1 billion facility with the state of Arizona.