CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The number of workers at Tesla's giant battery factory in northern Nevada has only reached about one-fifth the level the electric car company had projected would be in place by the end of this year.
An analysis presented to state lawmakers before they approved a $1.3 billion tax inventive to lure Tesla to Nevada in September 2014 projected employment would reach 1,700 at the plant by the end of 2016.
But an independent audit conducted by Grant Thornton released on Monday shows only 331 jobs have materialized so far at the industrial park east of Sparks.
Jennifer Cooper, spokeswoman for the Governor's Office of Economic Development, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal they're not concerned. She says Tesla decided to adopt more of "phased-build approach" so the plant could be operational at the same time it's being built.