Tesla’s decision to build two battery plants has spurred a lot of investor interest, and for the right reasons too; the plants might well hold the key to the automaker’s future growth Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA), the Palo Alto, California-based electric-car maker, has long been the subject of heated debates. From angles that cover company’s current performance and headwinds to the possibilities of achieving ambitious future objectives, analysts on both sides of the fence have been vocal. Probably the most interesting aspect is that of Tesla’s upcoming massive GigaFactory project. The company is looking to build two battery plants in at least two of the four states contending for Tesla’s consideration, namely Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. The factories will cost the company around $5 billion and unlock 6,500 jobs in the host states. The plants will be equipped to handle production volumes of 500,000 lithium-ion battery packs, which will match current global production volumes. With troubled cash flows, the company will most likely be raising the required funds from $1.6 billion worth of convertible notes, and the rest from partners, possibly including its current battery supplier, Panasonic Corporation (PCRFY). The company’s lofty valuation of $23 billion should partly ease the fund raising process. The figure is almost half that of the largest automaker in the US, General Motors Company (GM), which is currently valued at just over $54 billion.
