Photo: Tesla Motors
Finland isn't exactly one of the heavywerights of the automotive world. Aside from building tractors (Valtra) and very good snow tires (Nokian), it's pretty hard to link the Scandinavian country with things with wheels.
Alright, we deserve a good slapping: they also seem to produce some of the best racing drivers this world has ever seen, regardless whether we're talking about disciplines as different as rallying or Formula One. Those people really know how to drive.
Making cars, on the other hand, not so much. These days, though, you can be a pivotal part of the automobile world without having any expertise in the field. All you need to do is provide a good environment for the production of specific parts.
In the past, the most important parts used to be the engine blocks or the transmissions, but oh how things have changed. Nowadays, it's all about batteries, and there is no other brand more involved in making them than Tesla.
Even though work isn't completely over on its first Gigafactory near Reno, Nevada, the Palo Alto company has already announced its intention to expand to Europe with a similar facility in the near future. However, the exact site has not been chosen yet, which is why some officials have started tempting Tesla with various offerings.
One of the first came from France where Ségolène Royal, the country's Energy Minister, offered a decommissioned nuclear plant in Alsace as a possible site. Recently, though, Musk pointed out that solar energy will be very important in choosing the right location, something that doesn't bode well for the next proposal its company is about to get.
The Finnish city of Vaasa, which sits on the western coast, is preparing an official bid that comes with the support of Finland's incoming Minister of Economic Affairs, Mika Lintilä. They are gathering specialists from different fields to have the bid ready by the end of 2017's first quarter.
The main attraction that Vaasians hope will convince Elon Musk is the city's vicinity with the largest lithium deposit in Europe, located near Kaustinen, Green Car Reports says. While that is definitely an advantage, Finland isn't exactly located in the center of the continent, so it's a trade-off: you won't have to ship lithium over a long distance, but you'll have to do it with everything else.
Sooner or later, provided the Model 3 becomes a success, Tesla will undoubtedly establish base in Europe as well, and not just for a Gigafactory, but a car assembly line as well. And by the looks of it, the company will not be short on offers to choose from.
Making cars, on the other hand, not so much. These days, though, you can be a pivotal part of the automobile world without having any expertise in the field. All you need to do is provide a good environment for the production of specific parts.
In the past, the most important parts used to be the engine blocks or the transmissions, but oh how things have changed. Nowadays, it's all about batteries, and there is no other brand more involved in making them than Tesla.
Even though work isn't completely over on its first Gigafactory near Reno, Nevada, the Palo Alto company has already announced its intention to expand to Europe with a similar facility in the near future. However, the exact site has not been chosen yet, which is why some officials have started tempting Tesla with various offerings.
One of the first came from France where Ségolène Royal, the country's Energy Minister, offered a decommissioned nuclear plant in Alsace as a possible site. Recently, though, Musk pointed out that solar energy will be very important in choosing the right location, something that doesn't bode well for the next proposal its company is about to get.
The Finnish city of Vaasa, which sits on the western coast, is preparing an official bid that comes with the support of Finland's incoming Minister of Economic Affairs, Mika Lintilä. They are gathering specialists from different fields to have the bid ready by the end of 2017's first quarter.
The main attraction that Vaasians hope will convince Elon Musk is the city's vicinity with the largest lithium deposit in Europe, located near Kaustinen, Green Car Reports says. While that is definitely an advantage, Finland isn't exactly located in the center of the continent, so it's a trade-off: you won't have to ship lithium over a long distance, but you'll have to do it with everything else.
Sooner or later, provided the Model 3 becomes a success, Tesla will undoubtedly establish base in Europe as well, and not just for a Gigafactory, but a car assembly line as well. And by the looks of it, the company will not be short on offers to choose from.
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