Permits for Tesla's Mexico factory are almost ready as the state begins work on infrastructure

Final permits for Tesla to build an electric car factory in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon could be ready within weeks, and the local government is starting infrastructure work required by the company, a top official said Thursday.

Tesla in March announced plans to open a large factory in Nuevo Leon, its first in Mexico, which has also attracted investment from other automakers looking to meet ambitious production targets. The company has not provided details on construction or production.

Nuevo Leon's Economy Minister Ivan Rivas said in an interview that the automaker led by billionaire Elon Musk is considering a larger plant than originally envisioned and is still drawing up design, architecture and engineering plans, reports Reuters, the Telegraph reports.

The federal government is on track to grant environmental approvals within weeks, he said, which will allow the electric car maker to begin construction.

"I expect it to be a matter that will take about two weeks, at most up to a month," added Rivas.

Rivas revealed that only Tesla can address its timeline for Mexico. But he said he expected production to begin much earlier than 2026 or 2027, the dates Mexican newspaper Reforma reported last month, because Nuevo Leon aimed to quickly put in place infrastructure for water, electricity and transport.

"We are working to make this happen very quickly, so they have all the infrastructure they need to start as soon as possible," Ivan said, among other things. /Telegraph/