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Tesla is now one of Texas’ largest employers. Here’s how it got there.

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Tesla is now one of Texas’ largest employers. Here’s how it got there.


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Electric car manufacturer Tesla has spent years expanding its footprint in Texas. Now, a new Austin American-Statesman report finds it has become one of the largest employers in the Lone Star State, thanks to aggressive hiring at its Gigafactory Texas headquarters.

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But where are Tesla’s other factories around the state, and what’s the timeline behind its rise as an employer? Here’s a Tesla fact sheet of sorts, including what you need to know about its operations in Texas:

More: Tesla’s delivery numbers slump in Q1 amid tough quarter for company

Where are Tesla’s factories in Texas?

Tesla has factories and offices all over the state, but the company’s largest factory is its headquarters just outside Austin near the Colorado River at 13101 Tesla Road. Tesla also appears to be expanding its production of batteries into the Austin suburbs of Kyle and Hutto, according to a Statesman report from February.

In Kyle, the company has leased three warehouses with a total of more than 1 million square feet of space. The Statesman previously reported Hutto officials said the company had plans to occupy an industrial building on County Road 1999, but they shared few details about Tesla’s plans for the space.

More: Tesla appears to be using Austin suburbs of Kyle, Hutto to expand battery efforts

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Tesla also has a $375 million lithium refinery near Corpus Christi. The refinery is expected to provide lithium for about 1 million vehicle batteries produced in Austin and elsewhere, Musk said.

When did Tesla expand to Texas?

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, announced Oct. 7, 2021, that he planned to move the company’s headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Austin. Less than two months later, Tesla officially made the move to its gigafactory.

At the time, Musk cited a lack of expansion opportunities, the high cost of living and long commutes for his employees in San Francisco as reasons for the move. He also had squabbled with California lawmakers, which led him to previously threaten to move his company to Texas or Nevada.

More: Tesla driver goes viral wearing Apple Vision Pro behind the wheel

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In May, Tesla built its lithium refinery near Corpus Christi.

Where does Tesla rank among other employers in Texas?

Tesla is the third-largest employer in the state behind the state government itself and the University of Texas respectively. The car manufacturer employs 22,777 people, slightly surpassing H-E-B as the state’s largest private employer.

More: You’ll have to pay $1,000 more dollars for Tesla’s most popular SUV starting April 1

Of the top 10 largest employers, Tesla also moved to Texas the most recently. The company’s first foray into Texas came in 2016, while most of the other employers had entered the state during the previous century or earlier.



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Lawyers for wealthy Texas housewife accused of plowing Porsche into man on first date argue her designer heels caused deadly crash

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Lawyers for wealthy Texas housewife accused of plowing Porsche into man on first date argue her designer heels caused deadly crash


The wealthy Texas housewife accused of plowing into and killing a man on a first date while drunk and high claims her expensive high heels got stuck on the gas pedal of her Porsche 911 Carrera.

Kristina Chambers, 34, went on trial Friday for manslaughter in connection with the April 2023 crash that killed 33-year-old Joseph McMullin as he and his date were leaving a Voodoo Doughnut shop in Houston.

Prosecutors allege Chambers had been bar-hopping with friends that night, was four times over the legal alcohol limit, and had small baggies of cocaine in her car and purse, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Kristina Chambers was charged with manslaughter in connection with the April 2023 crash that killed 33-year-old Joseph McMullin as he and his date were leaving a Voodoo Doughnut shop in Houston. Houston Police

But her attorney, Mark Thiessen, argued her designer shoes caused the fatal crash.

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Thiessen claims his clients expensive Christian Louboutin heels had gotten stuck on the gas pedal of her Porsche as she drover down “one of Houston’s most dangerous curves.”

However, prosecutors Andrew Figliuzzi refuted the argument to the jury — believing Chambers was “itching to show off her sports car” to her two friends inside the Porsche at the time of the fatal wreck.

About an hour after the crash, Chambers registered a blood alcohol level of .301, nearly four times the legal limit, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing medical records.

Audio tech Briana Iturrino, who was on a date with McMullin that night, told the court they’d just left Voodoo Doughnuts around 2:25 a.m. when she saw blinding headlights barreling straight at them.

Iturrino testified that she realized the speedy sports car — estimated to be traveling over 70 mph at the time of impact — was about to make a sharp turn directly toward them.

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Joseph McMullin was killed while on a first date in Houston.

In the blink of an eye, the Porsche whipped past, missing Iturrino by inches — and when she turned to shout a warning to McMullin, he had vanished.

“I thought he had gotten out of the way, because I couldn’t find him,” Iturrino said.

Iturrino said she felt something brush against her hip, which she first thought was the car, but later realized was McMullin being thrown about 30 feet as Chambers drove on and slammed into a pole.

She then called 911 and a dispatcher instructed her to perform CPR until paramedics arrived, but McMullin died at the scene.

Chambers and her two passengers were injured in the wreck.

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About an hour after the crash, Chambers registered a blood alcohol level of .301, nearly four times the legal limit, according to medical records. KHOU 11

The general manager of the nearby Slick Willie’s pool hall, Alfredo Ponce, also testified, telling the court he heard the crash and ran outside to help, the outlet reported.

“I’ve seen so many accidents on that road,” Ponce said. “Every time, I get out and help whoever needs help and is injured.”

Ponce testified that the crash was one of the worst he had seen and said when he reached the sports car to help those inside he remembered it reeked of alcohol. 

Chambers was charged with manslaughter in McMullin’s death. She has pleaded not guilty, with prosecutors alleging she was driving at an excessive speed and lost control of her vehicle.

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In the two years since her arrest, Chambers’ case has seen a string of legal battles.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by McMullin’s parents against Chambers in June 2023 remains pending.

The suit also partly blames Chambers’ former partner — hedge fund manager, Xuan Si, who filed for divorce from her just days after she was released on bail — for purchasing the luxury sports car just months before the fatal crash.

Chambers and her two passengers were injured in the wreck.

However, Si has denied purchasing the sports car for his ex-wife, claiming instead that she bought the car herself using cash from their joint account.

Si also denied that his wife had a drinking problem, and said he had never seen her consume drugs or drive drunk.

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Sebastian Lopez — a close friend who was riding with Chambers the night of the fatal crash — described her as an “alcoholic” in his deposition and claimed Si knew she regularly drank and did drugs.

He added that she’d driven drunk “a handful” of times, even after getting the luxury Porsche.

McMullins grieving parents are seeking over $1 million in compensation for their son’s death.

Lawyers in Chambers’ criminal trial have been forbidden from mentioning the explosive claims in the civil lawsuit, which is slated for an April court date.

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Texas Oil Men Catch the Buzz About New Nuclear Technology

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Texas Oil Men Catch the Buzz About New Nuclear Technology


Welcome to our guide to the commodities powering the global economy. Today, Will Wade looks at how soaring energy demand is making Texas excited about nuclear power.

Country music was playing during lunch as conference attendees wearing cowboy boots talked energy. But the chatter wasn’t about oil — all the buzz was for “electrons.”



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Here’s how to buy LSU vs. Texas A&M college football tickets

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Here’s how to buy LSU vs. Texas A&M college football tickets


There’s not many undefeated teams left at the top of the college football rankings, but Texas A&M is one of them. LSU will be looking for redemption when the Aggies roll into town, after losing to Vanderbilt and dropping nine spots in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

Vanderbilt defeated LSU, nearly dropping the Tigers to sub-20 ranking. On the other hand, the Aggies have only faced one ranked opponent, squeaking by Notre Dame earlier in the season. Texas A&M is coming off a close win over the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Don’t miss this top-20 SEC matchup, tickets are available now.

Here’s everything you need to know to buy LSU vs. Texas A&M tickets:

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LSU vs. Texas A&M college football tickets

The LSU Tigers will host the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Tickets are available now, starting at $117. For a slightly better view, tickets on the east or west sides are starting at $327.

LSU vs. Texas A&M game information



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