Elon Musk has decided to commit more to Texas by promising to move SpaceX’s headquarters from Hawthorne, California, to this state. He also announced that the headquarters of his social network, X, will move from San Francisco to Austin, Texas, where the headquarters of another of his companies, Tesla, are already located.
SpaceX will move to Texas
SpaceX’s new headquarters will be at Starbase, a large facility where its Starship spacecraft are manufactured and tested.
Musk’s decision is not totally surprising, since Tesla had already announced in 2021 its transfer of headquarters from California to Austin, Texas. Although Tesla still has a large presence in California, including its Fremont assembly plant, the headquarters move symbolizes a strategy toward Texas.
In February, SpaceX changed its state of incorporation from Delaware to Texas, in response to a court ruling in Delaware over Musk’s compensation package at Tesla. Also, in the same month, his brain implant company, Neuralink, moved from Delaware to Nevada. Recently, Tesla shareholders approved reincorporating the Delaware company into Texas.
Now, another reason for moving SpaceX is due to a new law that exists in California. This law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, prohibits schools from forcing employees to reveal the sexuality or gender identity of students without their consent. Musk criticized this law and others like it, considering them harmful to families and businesses.
Regarding the decision to move X’s headquarters, Musk mentioned his frustration with the situation in San Francisco, citing personal security concerns due to “violent drug gangs.”
Words from the governor of Texas
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has welcomed Musk’s decision, saying it cements Texas’ status as a leader in space exploration. This move corroborates Musk’s expansion plans in Texas, indicating a continued shift toward a more favorable business environment.