Tesla Motors has moved a step closer to opening a manufacturing plant in Downey to build its next generation electric sedan.
Downey's planning commission approved a plan that would allow Tesla Motors to lease 51 acres formerly used by a NASA manufacturing plant, according to the Associated Press.
Telsa would likely use the proposed facility off Lakewood Boulevard and Columbia Way to build its Model S sedan. The high-tech all electric car seats up to five adults and can travel up to 300 miles without using gas.
The U.S. Department of Energy finalized a $465 million loan to Tesla in January which would allowing it to build plants in California, company spokesman Ricardo Reyes said in the Press-Telegram.
Downey has been competing with Long Beach to secure the deal. Telsa has not yet announced which city it would chose but its plant is expected to generate up to 1500 jobs.
