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California Cities Bid For Tesla Electric Car Plant

City officials from Long Beach and Downey, California are offering financial incentives to Tesla Motor as the electric carmaker decides where to build its assembly plant.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- The Long Beach City Council has approved a proposal to offer $28.6 million in financial incentives to Tesla Motor as the electric carmaker decides where to build its assembly plant.

Tuesday's vote intensifies bidding by Long Beach and nearby Downey to bring the plant, and with it hundreds of new jobs, to their cities. Nearly two weeks ago, Downey officials approved a $8.9 million deal to facilitate a lease deal between Tesla and the owner of a 60-acre property.

Downey Mayor Mario Guerra released a statement Tuesday night saying his city was prepared "to move forward with the Tesla Motors' project."

Tesla, a Bay Area company known for its sporty all-electric Roadster, has been looking for a plant to build its all electric sedan.