Slate Auto, a newly emerged electric vehicle startup that recently came out of stealth mode, is nearing a deal to secure a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, as the production site for its affordable electric truck, according to a review of public records. The company is expected to lease the 1.4 million-square-foot facility, although the terms of the lease remain undisclosed.

Economic development officials had previously mentioned to local media that the factory could potentially employ up to 2,000 people and that the county had offered an incentive package to the undisclosed company. However, the details of this package have not been disclosed, and it is unclear whether it has been finalized. Slate did not respond to a request for comment, and Peggy Friday, the CEO of the Kosciusko County Economic Development Corporation, stated that she is bound by a non-disclosure agreement regarding the project.

During an event, Slate showcased an aerial photo of the factory, which matches a public listing for the facility available on the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s website. Although the company did not specify the location of the factory, TechCrunch had previously reported that Slate planned to manufacture its electric vehicles, priced under $20,000 after the federal tax credit, in Indiana.

Slate’s CEO, Chris Barman, emphasized the company’s commitment to domestic manufacturing, stating, “Our truck will be made here in the USA as part of our commitment to re-industrializing America.” This focus on domestic production is a core aspect of the company’s mission, reflecting its origins within Re:Build Manufacturing, a Massachusetts-based company dedicated to revitalizing the country’s manufacturing capabilities.

The factory in Warsaw, initially constructed in 1958, was previously occupied by the printing company R.R. Donnelly for several decades before being dormant for approximately two years. Repurposing a factory, particularly one that was not originally designed for automotive production, is a complex and costly endeavor. Slate has secured significant funding, with investments from prominent backers including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter, and General Catalyst, totaling over $100 million to date.

The company’s approach to designing and manufacturing its electric truck is intended to minimize costs. By planning to sell wraps for the trucks instead of painting them, Slate can avoid the need to build a paint shop at the factory, potentially saving hundreds of millions of dollars in the plant buildout process.