Can Lucid, Nikola and ElectraMeccanica turn Arizona into a major electric vehicle manufacturing hub?

“We have the potential to become a massive global leader in emerging auto manufacturing,” Chris Camacho, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, told The Arizona Republic.

It’s happened before.

Nearly 40 years ago, the first Nissans rolled off an assembly line in Tennessee, helping to turn a largely rural state with modest manufacturing aspirations into an automotive powerhouse.

Tennessee now produces more than 800,000 cars and trucks annually and employs around 123,000 people, with three major auto brands and more than 900 parts suppliers.

The Republic reports that Arizona has commitments from three auto manufacturers and has made significant headway over the past three years.

But unlike the three major manufacturers in Tennessee — Nissan, General Motors and Volkswagen — Arizona’s three vehicle producers are all startups, and they’re all engaged in electric-vehicles.
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