Image via Southfield Planning Department / Automotive News
Detroit officials signed off on a new Tesla facility that’s being considered uniquely geared toward electric vehicle (EV) research, testing, repairs and maintenance, as reported by Automotive News.
Tesla has already started working on the location in Southfield, Michigan, adding 7,000 square feet to the existing 34,500-square-feet property, according to Southfield Planning Director Terry Croad.
“I’ve been told (by Tesla representatives) that it’s the first one in Michigan and the next closest one is Chicago,” Croad said. “It’s supposed to be able to handle 60 to 80 customers a week. There’s gonna be a lot of software updates. It’s not going to be your grandfather’s bump shop because of the sophistication of the chips and software. This is unique.”
Tesla Model Y Gets Review and Test Drive by The Detroit News https://t.co/BMu7tgCqTe
— TeslaNorth.com (@RealTeslaNorth) June 3, 2020
It’s not yet clear how the Southfield center will be different than a nearby Clarkston center that opened in 2020, or another one in 2021 that opened in Grand Rapids.
For the Southfield location, officials needed to approve a slight change to the zoning plans that allow for electric vehicles (EVs) to be used in that auto corridor, as they weren’t previously penned into city codes. These approvals occurred in September and October, according to Croad.
“We are embracing the fact that the U.S. fleet is starting to track toward EV vehicles,” Croad said. “I think this is just a sign of the direction that the automotive industry and communities will need to adapt and be fluid with it.”
