Tesla denies Delay Reports About Gigafactory Construction

Credit: Steve Jurvetson Flicker

Construction was reportedly delayed on Tesla Motors’ Gigafactory pilot plant which is located east of Reno, according to some union job postings. However, Tesla Motors denied delay claims.

So the construction at the Tesla’s Gigafactory has reportedly been delayed. A couple of months earlier the national job board for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers updated the listing for the Gigafactory which was also called Project Tiger.

This was done to indicate a change in demand for the electricians. IBEW post said that the Gigafactory project has been cut back by 80% at this time and that this is all subject to change. The local branch of the union which is located in Reno posted a message on its job referral page.

A lot of members claim that the message initially mentioned Project Tiger before it was changed. The post on the IBEW site said that a major project in the area has been delayed at this time and that further updates will be posted as soon as they know more.

There have been rumors that the delay is there because there have been changes in the design plans for the Gigafactory. These changes started ramping up construction at the end of the last year.

Some sources that are familiar with the situation are considering the reduction more of a short term change and they believe that it won’t affect the project in the longer run.

The spokesperson from Tesla was contacted on phone by RGJ and the spokesperson had no comments on the matter. The spokesperson said that the project is fully mapped and funded.

And another spokesperson from Tesla said that the claims about the delay are inaccurate and that they are on schedule. The Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada were contacted and they declined to provide specifics about the situation at the Gigafactory.

Secretary and treasurer of Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada Paul McKenzie said that he can confirm that there has been a reduction in hours and that’s all he could tell us.

The reduction in hours is not affecting all aspects of labor. Iron Workers Local 118 did a lot of work in the Gigafactory location where they also erected a $15 million steel structure in December.

They too declined to comment because they also have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Tesla. However, Elon Musk claims that the pilot plant is still under construction and posted a link to a picture of the Gigafactory pilot plant on his Twitter account.