California-based Samara has opened a factory in Mexicali, Mexico, to scale up manufacturing of their backyard ADU units. As we reported in late 2022, the startup is led by Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia alongside former Flex chief executive Mike McNamara.
The 150,000-square-foot factory will host the construction of Samara’s modular units, including interior and exterior finishes. Following production in the factory, each unit will be loaded onto a truck for delivery to the customer’s property.
The company’s first unit, Backyard, is being manufactured in studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts, with a larger two-bedroom expected to launch soon. Samara notes that the unit can be installed in “as few as seven months,” including permitting, with 30 days of on-site labor. The unit is currently available for purchase in California.
“Our homes are central to our lives,” said McNamara in a statement. “On average, most people in California live in their home for 17 years. Backyard is a powerful tool to help people get more mileage out of their properties, without the tax implications and hassles of a renovation. With our factory acquisition, I’m proud Samara can now integrate its world-class design, engineering capabilities, excellent customer experience, and in-house manufacturing capacity.”
As we reported last year, Los Angeles has recently sought to facilitate ADU construction by publishing an ADU Standard Plan Program containing 14 pre-approved plans. Our editorial has also recently reported on the rapid increase in ADU applications in San Diego, as cities along the West Coast grapple with an ongoing housing crisis.
2 Comments
Ah yes, the joys of non-union labor. NAFTA, you’re the best!
Witness the free market at work. After our wages are compromised they have substandard housing on offer!
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.