Zero-emission truck startup Nikola officially acquired the site of its manufacturing facility this month.
The company announced the purchase of 400 acres at the Inland Port Arizona manufacturing complex in Pinal County between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.
Nikola originally announced the location in Coolidge, Arizona, last fall, after a rush of preorders forced the company to alter plans for a suburban Phoenix factory.
Chief Executive Officer Trevor Milton said the deal moves the company closer to his dream of helping “an entire community” with its factory operations. Nikola expects to create about 2,000 jobs building hydrogen-electric hybrid heavy trucks in the area by 2024, with thousands of more jobs created nearby by suppliers and other related businesses.
“Imagine what it will do for property values, schools, parks, and other city improvements,” Milton said in a statement.
Nikola’s trucks are expected to be able to be refueled in 20 minutes — with help from hundreds of hydrogen fueling stations across North America — while offering ranges of between 500 and 1,200 miles.
The company is also building a new headquarters and research facility in Phoenix and introduced a third truck model aimed at the European market late last year.