JLL arranges two-phase major expansion for energy innovation firm Moxion Power in Richmond, Calif.

SAN FRANCISCO – June 27, 2023 – JLL’s Advanced Manufacturing site selection team announced today that it has arranged a 40,000-square-foot lease for Moxion Power’s “Factory One” expansion at the historic, circa-1930 Ford Motor Plant in Richmond, Calif., enabling the energy innovation firm to rapidly expand production of its mobile power products. The company, which designs, engineers and manufactures a pioneering all-electric alternative to the diesel generator, also plans a ground-up development next door for a 200,000-square-foot facility for future production needs.

“JLL has proven their value to us over and over again, and will continue to be a valued partner of ours as we expand,” said Moxion CEO and Co-Founder Paul Huelskamp.

Real estate advisory firm JLL was asked by Moxion to do a national search for the best site to meet the start-up’s current and future needs. Leveraging its deep experience in real estate site selection and using proprietary technologies including MapIt and Blackbird, JLL identified 15 U.S. markets and compared them across 40 different variables – including several sites in California. The modernized, historic Ford plant designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn not only fits the attributes of other U.S. sites, but JLL found the location was best positioned to support accelerated growth and optimize Moxion’s access to critical supply-chain and customer networks.

“The end goal was to find Moxion the best real estate for the business, at the best economics for the business,” said JLL Executive Managing Director Greg Matter. “We ran an in-depth, multi-state, site selection process, interacting with many states and municipalities to drive the best outcome.”

The winning location happened to be blocks away from Moxion’s headquarters in Richmond, Calif.

“The site was an ideal balance of manufacturing functionality and a healthy, outdoor-accessible workplace that aligns with Moxion’s core values in supporting an incredible employee experience -- which helps attract and retain the Bay Area's best talent,” said Mike Sample, Managing Director, JLL. “Easy freeway access and the adjacent Richmond-Bay Area ferry terminal literally at its front door were also great, favorable attributes.”

“We rely on our proprietary site selection tools to save the client time and eliminate all the ‘noise’ of the typical process,” Matter said. “Speed-to-market is critical in the current environment. With our tools we’ve aggregated variables such as workforce, operating environment, quality of life, utility capacity, site readiness, and more, all of which enables us to compare locations and sites quickly so we can focus our efforts on the optimal location.”

See the JLL-Moxion Case Study video:
https://www.us.jll.com/en/client-stories/moxion-power-electrifies-the-future