PALO ALTO-- With a $465 million loan package coming down the pipeline from the U.S. Department Of Energy, Tesla Motors is getting ready to step up their game from a limited production run of electric roadsters for rich silicon valley types and eco-conscious Hollywood celebs to something more robust.

How much more robust?

On the order of 1,600 new jobs in the Bay Area. Tesla can add "recession fighting" alongside "swift, silent, and sexy" to the Tesla roadster's list of fine qualities.

[Gas2 via SFist]

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