The company and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced Tuesday that Nikola has selected Buckeye, Ariz., for its hydrogen-electric semi-truck manufacturing headquarters facility. The new 500 acre, 1,000,000-sq.-ft. facility will be located on the west side of Phoenix and will bring more than $1 billion in capital investment to the region by 2024.
“After 12 months, nine states and 30 site locations, Arizona, Governor Ducey, Sandra Watson and Chris Camacho were the clear front runners. Arizona has the workforce to support our growth and a governor that was an entrepreneur himself. They understood what 2,000 jobs would mean to their cities and state,” says Trevor Milton, CEO and founder at Nikola. “We will begin transferring our R&D and headquarters to Arizona immediately and hope to have the transition completed by October 2018. We have already begun planning the construction for our new zero emission manufacturing facility in Buckeye, which we expect to have underway by the end of 2019.”
Nikola Motor Company says it selected Buckeye, Arizona due to numerous factors including the state’s pro-business environment, engineering schools, educated workforce and geographic location that provides direct access to major markets.
“Nikola Motor Company’s selection of Arizona demonstrates that we are leading the charge when it comes to attracting innovative, industry-disrupting companies,” says Gov. Ducey. “This incredible new technology will revolutionize transportation, and we’re very proud it will be engineered right here in Arizona. I thank Nikola’s CEO Trevor Milton and his entire team for this significant investment in our state.”
Development of the new manufacturing plant on a 500-acre parcel at Sun Valley Parkway and the future Wintersburg Parkway is projected to begin by the end of 2019. Nikola says the site is at one of the entrances to Douglas Ranch/Trillium, a new master planned community being developed by El Dorado Holdings and JDM Partners; this community is projected to ultimately be home to more than 300,000 residents.
“I’ve worked on many economic development issues in my career, but being part of this team that brings Nikola Motors to Arizona is very satisfying,” says Mike Ingram, founder and chairman of El Dorado Partners. “We look forward to announcing additional partners who will join Nikola at Douglas Ranch in the near future as we start to build momentum and unlock its full economic power.”
“Conceived as the prototype ‘Smart City,’ Trillium at Douglas Ranch aligns well with Nikola Motors groundbreaking technology,” says Jerry Colangelo, co-founder and partner with David Eaton and Mel Shultz of JDM Partners. “We look forward to working with everyone here to bring Nikola’s innovative products and their 2,000 professionals into this city of the future, creating a tremendous economic opportunity for Arizona.”
Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck adds, “This is a great day not only for Arizona, but for Buckeye residents. As the seventh fastest growing city in the country, Nikola Motor Company is a huge asset, which will help us achieve our goal of providing a place where Buckeye residents can live, work and play. Additionally, I wish to thank our partners, El Dorado Holdings, Inc. and JDM Partners from Douglas Ranch/Trillium, who were instrumental in putting this deal together. I look forward to continued success together.”
