In the quiet chatter that dominates cyberspace conversations, there are few destinations or attractions hotter than the Tesla gigafactory in Storey County, Nevada—about 21 miles east of downtown Reno and a few miles off Interstate 80, which puts the facility about 2,963 miles west of New York City and just south one of the most heavily traveled and connected U.S. Interstate highways.
And nowhere is there more quiet chatter, apparently, than in China, where the word has established the factory, which manufactures batteries for the lithium battery-powered Tesla vehicle, as a “must-see” attraction.
This fact became clear to Nevada Lt. Governor Mark Hutchinson, reports the Reno Gazette-Journal, during a 10-day trade mission to China. The Chinese, he said, regard the factory as a major attraction. In fact, Hutchison said, he saw so much interest in the Tesla gigafactory among the Chinese that he wants to talk to Tesla officials about official tours through the gigafactory. At 5.5 million square feet, the gigafactory is reportedly the biggest building in the world in terms the amount of the earth’s surface that it covers.
“One of my biggest takeaways from the trip is to speak to Tesla officials and just let them know (about the interest in the Tesla factory),” Hutchison said during an April 19th “Nevada Newsmakers” show. “I don’t know if they are interested or not interested but the big attraction, at least for the Chinese traveler, would be a tour through Tesla.” (You can view the program at http://www.nevadanewsmakers.com /)
“That came up repeatedly through my time in China,” added Hutchison, whose trip took him to Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. “Tesla was a big topic of conversation when I was over there. The Chinese tourists, the travelers, all of those who we met with, all loved the Tesla company and they wanted to come out and see the gigafactory.”
Hutchinson indicated that the Chinese tourism officials he met were also pleased with the recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. “It is interesting,” Hutchison said. “A lot of the Chinese I spoke to as well had a favorable impression of Donald Trump. And particularly, after that meeting (between Xi and Trump). They were worried about that meeting because of the rhetoric that came out of the (U.S. presidential) campaign. After that meeting, they were not only optimistic views about President Trump but also about the United States.”
To view a video tour of the Tesla factory, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib1KKHGYmLQ
