Tesla, the leader in the electronic vehicle race and producer of cars such as the Model 3 and Cybertruck might be planning to shift some of its manufacturing to the UK according to the latest rumors. This follows Tesla's continuing expansion into European markets, with its fully-fledged factory in Berlin under full stream, and the establishment of a new design and research facility in the German capital.

After the opening of the Berlin-based plant, Tesla CEO Elon Musk was quoted as saying that Tesla had considered opening a factory in the UK, but at that time, the looming Brexit crisis had made such a move too risky.

Now a new report claims that the UK Department for International Trade (DIT) is on the hunt for a massive 4 million-square-foot site for Tesla to build an electric vehicle (EV) research, development, and manufacturing plant. The DIT confirmed this report, stating that "The government is working with industry to help make the UK the location of choice to develop world-class electric vehicle technologies".

The report also reveals a possible site for the proposed factory in Gravity industrial park in Somerset in South West England which is sized at 650 acres. The move will signal a return to the close ties Tesla and the UK had when Lotus was working closely on the Tesla Roadster project.

This news comes after numerous complaints from customers who are unsure of the quality of Tesla products. The news also comes as a surprise in the current economic climate. Tesla has been pursuing an aggressive expansion plan, but the opening of a new plant during, or just after the Covid-19 epidemic might be too ambitious.

Tesla's saving grace will be the Model 3 which has proven to be a sales success in the UK, and a new factory there would be perfect for producing right-hand-drive vehicles to the rest of the European market. Either way, a major expansion into Europe is on the horizon.