Tesla, Toyota Partners on Electric Cars

20 May, 2010 08:36:00

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Toyota and Tesla Motors are partnering to make next-generation electric cars at a recently shuttered auto-assembly line in Northern California.

Part of the deal will involve Toyota purchasing $50 million of Tesla’s common stock, the companies said in a joint statement.

Tesla will acquire the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI) plant for production of its Model S sedan, the company said at a news conference at its Silicon Valley headquarters.

Tesla has also partnered with other big automaker – Daimler AG - which took a 10 percent share in the company last year. Daimler later sold part of its Tesla stake to Aabar Investments in Abu Dhabi.

The Model S production will occupy only a small corner of the vast NUMMI plant.

Tesla has been granted $465 million of loans from the U.S. government to build a new lower-cost model. The company had been negotiating with the city of Downey, near Los Angeles, to build a production facility for its new Model S.

The companies said they would also cooperate on engineering and parts, as well as a production system. A specialist team will be formed with representatives from both companies.

Toyota stopped making cars at the NUMMI plant in April after a 25- year joint venture with General Motors.

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