• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Tesla Will Make Electric Motors for the Model 3 at Its Massive Gigafactory

By
Kirsten Korosec
Kirsten Korosec
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Kirsten Korosec
Kirsten Korosec
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 17, 2017, 10:32 PM ET

Tesla (TSLA) will make electric motors for its new Model 3 sedan at its massive $5 billion factory in Nevada, Gov. Brian Sandoval said on Tuesday night, as the automaker prepares to start producing the mass market vehicle later this year.

Elon Musk’s company will invest an additional $350 million to outfit its storied, so-called gigafactory with production lines to make the electric motors and gearbox components, according to remarks made by the governor during his State of the State speech. The Model 3 vehicle will be produced at the company’s Fremont, Calif. factory.

The move will lead to 550 new jobs, Sandoval said.

Bringing electric motor production to the Nevada factory allows Tesla to maximize the footprint of its Fremont factory, in which every inch of the hefty 5.3 million-square-foot space will be needed, as the company pushes toward its goal of producing 500,000 vehicles annually.

While the Fremont factory is landlocked, the Nevada gigafactory is located across some 3,200 acres, with plenty of space to expand.

Gov. Sandoval thanked Tesla for “doubling down” on its commitment to the state, noting that the company has already provided significant economic growth for Nevada.

Tesla currently has 1,000 people employed in full-time positions, and another 2,000 construction workers onsite, said Sandoval.

Tesla agreed to create 6,500 jobs as part of a nearly $1.4 billion tax incentives package approved by the state legislature and the governor in September 2014. However, Musk has said that eventually the factory will employ 10,000 people.

The electric carmaker expects the factory, which will have more than 10 million square feet of operational space, to be the biggest building in the world once it’s complete. The current structure of the factory has a footprint of 1.9 million square feet, which houses 4.9 million square feet of operational space across several floors. About 30% of the factory is complete.

An aerial view of Tesla's gigafactory from January 2017.
An aerial view of Tesla’s gigafactory in January 2017. (Photograph: Courtesy of Tesla)
Courtesy of Tesla

When combined with the battery—which is already being produced at the gigafactory—most of the Model 3 electric powertrain will be made in Nevada. Tesla in early January started mass-producing lithium-ion battery cells at the factory, located in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. In the second quarter, the gigafactory will start making battery cells for its $35,000 Model 3 sedan.

The battery packs and electric motors will be shipped to Tesla’s factory in Fremont, Calif., where the Model 3 vehicle will be produced.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Tesla will not receive any additional incentives on top of the deal it struck with the state in 2014, a spokesperson said. However, the company will receive the same property and sales tax benefits and job credits agreed upon for the gigafactory. In other words, the sales tax benefit will extend to the equipment Tesla invests in to help produce the electric motors.

By 2018, the Nevada factory will produce 35 gigawatt-hours a year of lithium-ion battery cells, almost as much as the rest of the world’s battery production combined.

About the Author
By Kirsten Korosec
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
Fortune Secondary Logo
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

A veiled Iranian woman holds her cellphone displaying a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
CybersecuritySecurity
Cyber retaliation from Iran is a problem for U.S. companies — ‘It’s in the hands of a 19-year-old hacker in a Telegram room,’ ex-NSA operative says
By Amanda GerutMarch 1, 2026
4 minutes ago
Middle EastIran
Trump says he plans to speak with Iran’s new leadership as military reveals B-2 stealth bomber attack on ballistic missile facilities
By Matthew Lee, David Klepper and The Associated PressMarch 1, 2026
52 minutes ago
basketball player celebrates on the court
EconomyNBA
NBA star’s partnership with a prediction market raises new questions for a troubled sports betting landscape
By Carlos GarciaMarch 1, 2026
57 minutes ago
PoliticsTerrorism
Suspect in Texas shooting that FBI is investigating as potential terrorism wore ‘Property of Allah’ clothing and Iranian flag emblem
By Jack Myer, Alanna Durkin Richer, Eric Tucker, John Seewer and The Associated PressMarch 1, 2026
1 hour ago
iran
Middle EastMiddle East
3 U.S. service members killed and 5 seriously wounded in Iran operation, after Trump warned of casualties
By Ben Finley and The Associated PressMarch 1, 2026
2 hours ago
Middle EastMilitary
U.S. military gives Iran a taste of its own medicine with cheap copycat Shahed drones, while concern shifts to munitions supply in extended conflict
By Jason MaMarch 1, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
Your grandparents are the reason the U.S. isn't in a recession right now. That won't last forever
By Eleanor PringleMarch 1, 2026
12 hours ago
placeholder alt text
AI
The week the AI scare turned real and America realized maybe it isn't ready for what's coming
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 28, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Japanese companies are paying older workers to sit by a window and do nothing—while Western CEOs demand super-AI productivity just to keep your job
By Orianna Rosa RoyleFebruary 27, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Middle East
Iran is now on 'death ground' amid existential threat from U.S. attacks and could 'go big' in retaliation, former NATO commander warns
By Jason MaFebruary 28, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Walmart exec says U.S. workforces needs to take inspiration from China where ‘5 year-olds are learning DeepSeek’
By Preston ForeFebruary 27, 2026
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Middle East
Dubai’s worst nightmare unfolds as Iran strikes Gulf neighbors
By Dana Khraiche, Fiona MacDonald and BloombergFebruary 28, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.