Tesla picks Austin, Tulsa as finalists for new US factory

 Tesla has picked Austin, Texas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, as finalists for its new U.S. assembly plant, a person briefed on matter said Friday.

person says company officials visited Tulsa in past week and were shown two sites.

It wasn’t clear if re were any or finalists in mix. person didn’t want to be identified because site selection process is secret.

electric car maker has said it wants factory to be in center of country and closer to East Coast markets.

stakes are high for state and local governments. Tesla has said plant will be larger than its factory in Fremont, California, which employs 10,000 workers.

Companies typically play finalists against each or in order to get best pack of tax breaks and or incentives.