Tesla's new Gigafactory could be in Canada, according to new filing

The CEO is no stranger to expanding internationally, as two of Tesla's five gigafactories are based in , Germany, and Shanghai, .

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But new company documents indicate there may be a new non-US headquarters in the works.

Next stop,?

According to a filing with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Canada obtained by Electric Autonomy Canada, Tesla began lobbying the Ontario government in what appears to be the preparing the ground for the opening of a new factory. p>

The filing says Tesla plans to "engage with the government and its agencies to identify opportunities for industrial and/or advanced facility permit reforms with the goal of increasing Ontario's competitiveness and its ability to attract by establishing approval timelines that are competitive with high-growth manufacturing sites in North America, while working with government to identify or align incentive programs that could further increase the attractiveness of the 'Ontario for Industrial and/or Advanced Manufacturing Investments.'

A Canada-based plant would be a big deal for the U.S.-based automaker, which has struggled with pandemic-related shutdowns and delays at its plant in Shanghai, China. China is also the largest supplier of batteries for electric vehicles. Having a way to outsource materials closer to home can therefore help speed up production.

It would also put Musk and Tesla in direct competition with budding electric vehicle developers General Motors and Ford who already have factories set up in the city.

Rumors swirled about a Tesla facility in Canada after Musk made comments at Tesla's shareholder meeting last week when he asked attendees to shout where the next one should be. company giga-factory.

"We get a lot from Canada. I'm half Canadian, maybe I should," he mused.

Tesla already operates a branded battery equipment factory in Ontario, in the town of Markham, which opened in November 2021. Batteries manufactured at the factory are shipped to gigafactories in Berlin and Austin , Texas.

“I am thrilled to announce that Tesla Canada is joining our already strong automotive ecosystem by bringing a manufacturing facility to the town of Markham,” Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said at the time. "The plant will be the first Tesla Canada-branded manufacturing facility in Canada and will produce state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment for use in Gigafactories located around the world for battery production."

Tesla is up more than 23% year-over-year on Thursday afternoon.