I think a serious benefit ND has, aside from the established reputation and money put in is <i>space</i>.  I can&#x27;t really think of somewhere in Silicon Valley (or near by) that has the lack of population, lack of airspace traffic, and lack of local &#x2F; state &#x2F; federal ordinances that would allow this degree of freedom.<p>Silicon Valley has it&#x27;s strengths, but it can&#x27;t be ground zero for everything.<p>Honestly, if the NUMI plant wasn&#x27;t in Fremont, I could see the majority of Tesla being not in the bay area (one could argue the battery plant in NV is such a shift).