Will Tesla choose Tulsa?
Tesla owners quickly joined forces with city officials, notably Tulsa mayor G.T. Bynum, as well as a coalition of philanthropists and other civic-minded Tulsans including billionaire George Kaiser, to promote the city as the best location for what the innovative automaker is calling a “terafactory.”
A series of polished videos promoting “Tulsa for Tesla” was released online, featuring footage of the unmistakable vehicles cruising past iconic Tulsa landmarks. The campaign held its most public event at an unveiling of the city’s historic Golden Driller statue adorned with a Tesla belt buckle and the company’s logo emblazoned on his chest. The statue was even made up so his face resembled Tesla’s controversial founder, Elon Musk. Bynum emerged from a Tesla before stepping to the podium to reveal the giant Elon.
“It is clear that Tesla and Tulsa were forged in the same spirit. Both founded by pioneers who dreamt big and made it happen. Both trying to change the world with a new kind of energy. Both investing big in what matters most: people,” Bynum told the crowd, although with Musk clearly being his intended audience. “Tulsa is a city that doesn’t stifle entrepreneurs – we revere them. And as Tesla continues to rapidly change transportation all around the world, I can’t imagine a better place for them to further that important work than Green Country.”
But despite Tulsa’s highly professional PR campaign, does the city have what it takes to beat out Austin? Most online speculation places Austin in the lead, and there are clues as to why this might be the case. When battling government officials in Fremont, California over his decision to reopen the Tesla plant there in defiance of COVID-19 closure orders, Musk stated via Twitter on May 9 that the company was relocating, and Tulsa was not mentioned.
“Frankly, this is the final straw,” Musk wrote. “Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/nevada immediately.”
It was also reported on May 22 that Tesla’s in-car navigation system lists a Texas address for the company’s new “Terafactory,” further fueling the belief that Austin will prevail in the competition.
And while all Tulsans are likely to agree that this is a great city in which to live and work, and in recent years has adopted progressive policies that set it apart from most similarly sized midwestern municipalities, Austin has several advantages that Tulsa needs to find a way to overcome when recruiting companies such as Tesla to relocate here.
Companies with a significant presence in Austin already include Apple, Google, IBM, Oracle, Intel, 3M, and Amazon, making for a sizeable talent pool. With 978,908 residents, Austin has roughly double the population of Tulsa, which is also a significant consideration.
Education will also play a part in Tesla’s decision, and there Texas has a slight edge over Oklahoma, ranked 34 in the nation compared the Sooner State at 39.
The public does not yet know the details of what city and state leaders have offered Tesla, but in the final analysis the decision will be one based not on emotion but on monetary issues and the quality of life for the company’s workers. If the effort by Mayor Bynum and the Tulsa for Tesla coalition succeeds, it will be the greatest coup for the city since Gathering Place. (La Semana)