Tesla's Solar Factory to Make EV Chargers
Tesla's solar factory in Buffalo, New York, will manufacture the company's electric vehicle Supercharger cabinets and other energy storage products, as demand for solar panels is lower than expected.
The company disclosed the move in an annual report to New York state in which it said it had exceeded its jobs and investment commitments thus far.
Tesla employs 329 workers at the factory while its partner, Panasonic, has about 400 employees there, the report said.
The electric vehicle maker was required to have at least 500 employees in the state by April 30 as part of its commitment to New York, which provided $750 million in subsidies for the facility.
Tesla’s plan to manufacture solar products in New York has come under scrutiny as the company has drastically scaled back the U.S. solar business it acquired in 2016 with the $2.6 billion purchase of SolarCity.
At the time, it planned to use the factory to make what the company called the Solar Roof, an energy system meant to look like normal roof tiles. But that product has been far slower to reach the market than promised.
Tesla will also open three new vehicle service centers in New York, the company said. A year from now, the company is required to employ 1,460 workers in the state.