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Tesla Motors Inc. expects to announce in the next several weeks that it has chosen a plant to produce its electric vehicles, CEO Elon Musk (right) told Automotive News Tuesday.


This isn't particularly news, as his PR people have been saying a decision is right round the corner months and, well, no announcement has been made yet.


But Musk also said that Tesla is hiring 50 to 60 people a month, focusing on vehicle engineering and production specialists, and that it has chosen companies or has two finalists to supply 80 percent of the parts for the planned $49,900 Model S sedan, due to be launched in 2012.


Tesla's first mass production plant will be on the West Coast and will build both the Model S and the next-generation Roadster sports car. Tesla will convert a factory, but Musk declined to say whether the plant previously had been used by the automotive industry.


"It hasn't yet been finalized," he said. "We've almost fully negotiated the deal, but it has not been signed yet."


Tesla has "a fairly significant team" put together for manufacturing, Musk said. He said Tesla has recruited people who have worked with BMW AG, Land Rover and Toyota Motor Corp.
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Tags: Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla, Battery, Battery-Electric Vehicle, BEV, Electric Vehicle, EV, Factory, Model S, Plant, Plug-in, Roadster, Tesla Motors

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Tesla Motors to Announce Site of Electric Vehicle Plant in Coming Weeks, CEO Says was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.