Tesla to Buy Old NASA Plant Near LA to Build the Model S

In brief: Two local newspapers are saying that a deal is nearly closed for the purchase of an old NASA plant to build the Model S.

Vehicle in the news

Make/Model: Model S
Manufacturer: Tesla Motors

The word

Outside of Los Angeles is a little town called Downey in which an abandoned NASA plant sits idle. The Mayor of the twon, Mario Guerra, has told two local newspapers (The Long Beach Press-Telegram and The District) that the deal is near closing.

The plant will be purchased by Tesla Motors (in Silicon Valley) and will be the long-rumored Southern California plant from which the 2011 Model S sedan will be produced.

An official announcement has not been made, but it appears that the deal is all but settled. Tesla plans to have the Model S on the road in late 2011. The U.S. Department of Energy just approved loans of $464 million to facilitate the carmaker's plans.

And so ...

If the deal finalizes, the more affordable S ($49,900 after rebates) will likely be on the market on time. The Model S is Tesla's first in-house design.

Photo credits: Wired Magazine and Google Maps