Nikola Corp., a zero-emission heavy truck manufacturer, opened a vehicle production plant in Coolidge on Thursday that can generate 1,800 jobs.
Phoenix, a Phoenix affiliate, already one of Arizona’s most valuable companies, still doesn’t generate significant revenue, will spend at least $600 million to expand the million-square-foot plant.
It will be built on 430 acres of land on the spike peak, not from the railroad tracks and the intersection of Highways 10 and 8.
The facility will have the capacity to produce 35,000 semitrucks annually in two shifts.
The company, which chief executive Trevor Milton founded in the house six years ago, now has a market capitalization or is worth more than $13 billion. This makes it more valuable than any other, but a handful of Arizona’s largest corporations.
Nikola will soon design and manufacture a range of vehicles, from small trucks and non-public jet skis to giant battery-powered platforms or electric hydrogen options.
The first Nikola trucks will be manufactured in Germany through the production spouse Iveco. Nikola plans to start generating cars at the Coolidge site until the end of 2021, first generating the Nikola Tre, a heavy truck with an upward flip cockpit, and the Nikola Two, with an elongated cockpit.
Nikola’s Badger’s electrical collection for the customer market will also be carried out at the Coolidge plant, which will offer progressive connectivity to optimize energy conservation, productivity and quality.
“Everything we do in our production process and our backyard will be done to ensure the smallest environmental footprint imaginable while producing the highest quality high-tech products,” said Mark Duchesne, Nikola’s global production manager.
Nikola’s Phoenix headquarters is south of Sky Harbor International Airport.
The company is also creating a national network of hydrogen fuel stations, with Milton emphasizing the importance of reducing hydrogen load and stations at the center of the company’s model. Despite the importance of his trucks, he described Nikola primarily as an “energy technology” company.
Milton cited the infrastructure, proximity to Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, proximity to the California market and the state, county, and city government among the points that led to Coolidge’s election.
Milton chose the assistance of Governor Doug Ducey, who provided him with his mobile phone number and answered Milton’s calls. Ducey also promised all the permissions the company wanted and arranged contacts with app representatives, local business leaders and others to facilitate the transition, Milton said.
Contact your journalist at [email protected] or 602-444-8616.