CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — New updates are visible at the Tesla plant south of Robstown along Highway 77 as some of the steel framing is being put into place for the lithium facility.
Elon Musk is investing over a billion dollars into the refinery and broke ground on the facility last May.
Back in October 3NEWS spoke with the Manager of Operations Jason Bevan. He said that by now the company would be starting up its plant operations and testing its equipment. Then, later this year it would be ramping up production.
As the plant still appears to be in construction, 3NEWS asked Tesla for an update but did not receive a reply.
The billion dollar Tesla lithium plant outside of Robstown was supposed to create around a thousand construction jobs. When it eventually opens it will provide 250 full-time positions. Although it's far from being ready to produce lithium feedstocks, area city and county officials are encouraged to see the progress being made out here.
Mayor of Robstown Petey Martinez said businesses there are definitely cashing in.
"You can see the restaurants, Jalisco and all the restaurants here they're normally booming everyday," Martinez said. "Breakfast you see all of the companies coming in all over Robstown you seen them even at H‑E‑B."
Commissioner Brent Chesney did not seem worried about the project appearing to be behind schedule and here's why.
"Tesla has a habit of delivering and under promising which is unusual because that's not what most companies do, so it's exciting to see them get started, exciting to see them progress," Chesney said.
3NEWS also checked the companies job site and it has 39 positions open for the Robstown plant right now. Those include jobs as a supervisor, superintendent and engineer.
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