Autoblog

Dealers claim factory-owned Tesla stores are illegal

George Kennedy — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Sedan, Government/Legal, Tesla, Electric

Unlike typical dealers, Tesla has a network of "stores" and "retail stores." While reservations can be made for a new Model S or Roadster at the retail store, Tesla says other versions of the store merely direct potential customers to make their reservation online. Most of these boutique-style stores are in shopping malls, and Tesla asserts that they are not sales facilities. It's an assertion with which traditional auto dealers are taking issue.

Dealers associations and networks across the country are doubling down their efforts to make Tesla's OEM showroom network illegal. Tesla has opened 17 stores in 10 states, as well as the District of Columbia.

Dealership associations contend Tesla's notion that sales are not made at these stores, stating that the showroom experience is still part of the sales process. To that end, dealer groups across the country have embarked in legal battles with the electric carmaker. The Illinois Secretary of State has informed Tesla that it is illegal to list CEO Elon Musk as the owner of its Chicago store. The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association is looking into legal options against Telsa's Westchester store, as well as two others in New York. In Massachusetts, the opening of a store in the suburban Natick Mall is having its legality challenged by the dealer association in that state. California has laws in place that allow for a manufacturer to run its own dealership, as long as it is not within 10 miles of an existing dealer. That practice caught the ire of Chrysler dealers when the American automaker opened its own multi-brand showroom near downtown Los Angeles.

Tesla says the way that its stores are run are unique to each location. According to George Blankenship, Tesla's VP of sales, "If we can't be a dealer in a mall, we won't do reservations on-site. We tell people where to go on our website to make a reservation." Blankenship is the former Apple retail guru and the mind behind the Apple Stores - an experience Tesla hopes to recreate in its own sales network. In the eyes of many dealers, that is a threat to their own dealership model. As Tesla seeks to open more stores in more states, this is unlikely to be the end of the pushback against the electric automaker.

Dealers claim factory-owned Tesla stores are illegal originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In deep with Tesla CEO Elon Musk: Financials, Falcon doors and finding faults in the Model S

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Tesla

Tesla Motors Elon Musk spends about half his working life - i.e., almost all of his waking hours - in his office at SpaceX in Los Angeles. The automotive CEO is, after all, also in charge of the rocket company, which means that he's thinking about a lot more than just ramping up production of the Model S. But he is thinking about that a lot, too. More than you might expect.

AutoblogGreen recently got to sit down with Musk at SpaceX for a one-on-one, wide-ranging interview. Musk, comfortable and relaxed in an "Occupy Mars" t-shirt, was forthcoming about most things we asked - but questions about Tesla's upcoming Supercharger network of fast chargers, which can deliver so much more juice per minute than any other plug-in vehicle charger on the market, were deflected, since the company is planning a big announcement at the end of this month or early October - and we got into Tesla's financial situation, why the Model X has those falcon doors and how Daimler saved Tesla. We learned a lot, including that Musk really doesn't like the rear seat access in the Audi Q7. Not one bit.

Read the whole interview below.

Continue reading In deep with Tesla CEO Elon Musk: Financials, Falcon doors and finding faults in the Model S

In deep with Tesla CEO Elon Musk: Financials, Falcon doors and finding faults in the Model S originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla libel suit against Top Gear fails again

Zach Bowman — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Government/Legal, UK, Tesla, Electric

Tesla and the company's lawyers are nothing if not determined. After a judge smacked down the electric vehicle manufacturer's libel suit against the BBC and Top Gear for comments made about the range of the Tesla Roadster, the automaker rallied with a second, amended lawsuit. It didn't take long for the the same judge to nix the new case, too, saying the amendment was "not capable of being defamatory at all, or, if it is, it is not capable of being a sufficiently serious defamatory meaning to constitute a real and substantial tort."

That sound? It's the smack of the judicial backhand.

The judge went on to say drivers know a manufacturer's claim about range is dependent on driving conditions and habits.

The dustup, as you may recall, began when Top Gear put the Tesla Roadster through its paces on the show's test track. While Jeremy Clarkson lauded the car's acceleration, the segment claimed the vehicle ran out of juice after just 55 miles of abuse. That figure is far south of the 200 mile range Tesla claims for the vehicle. CEO Elon Musk called the show "completely phony" not long after the segment aired and brought out the legal guns. The rest, as they say, is history.

Tesla libel suit against Top Gear fails again originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla bricked battery story may have a short circuit

Jeff Sabatini — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Tesla, Electric

Yesterday's outrageous attack on electric vehicles didn't come from the GOP (for a change), but from a seemingly disinterested blogger, one Michael Degusta. His charges against Tesla include suggesting that its cars will have "eventual, inevitable, catastrophic battery failure," lambasting the company for poor warranty service, accusing Tesla of tracking its owners without consent, and intimating that the company is not only failing to provide owners with proper notice of this phenomenon but also covering up the whole sordid affair. Serious stuff, this post of his that's rippled through the automotive web with the force of a 185-kW electric motor.

Yet all may not be what it seems. Late yesterday, an e-mail surfaced on Green Car Reports, in which a disgruntled owner who bricked his battery pleads his case to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The e-mail, sent by one Max Drucker, CEO of Santa Barbara-based Social Intelligence Corp, is a clear plea for assistance in the repair of his car. Drucker identifies his car as Roadster #340, the same car that serves as the primary example in Degusta's piece. Drucker has since spoken with Autopia about his car, admitting that he drove his Roadster down to a 25 percent charge, then left it parked for six weeks, something the owner's manual specifically warns against.

Now, let's turn our attention towards Degusta, who noted at the end of his screed, "No one has paid me to write this article" and pointed out that his blog is not advertising-supported. That's an important point, as it's clearly designed to give readers the impression that Degusta is an unbiased outsider, something of a modern-day Upton Sinclair, defending the poor, innocent owners of $100,000 sports cars from the uncaring electric car company and its billionaire co-founder.

Yet, a few minutes spent with Google shows that Drucker and Degusta are also business partners, having registered at least four corporations together in California, according to Corporationwiki. It also turns up this article, from the November 15, 2000, issue of Insurance & Technology magazine, a profile of Drucker, in which he is quoted describing Degusta as his "partner in crime." Indeed, we wonder if the famously litigious Tesla might be considering another libel lawsuit against this muckraking duo.

Tesla bricked battery story may have a short circuit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla Roadster facing 'brick' battery problems?

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Safety, Technology, Tesla, Electric

Here's a new worry for electric car owners: bricking your new, expensive ride.

Using a word taken from the computer world, to "brick" an EV means to make your electronic device inoperable. In the case of an EV, it would mean to run the battery state of charge so far down that nothing works anymore, thus requiring an expensive flatbed tow and an even more expensive battery pack - about $40,000 in a Tesla Roadster.

This is the charge of Michael Degusta, who wrote a detailed post on the matter in which he claims there have been five cases of Roadsters being bricked that he knows about. Since this is the first we've heard about it (and we imagine all those Silicon Valley Roadster owners know a thing or two about Internet communication), we're surprised we didn't hear about this before the alleged problem claimed five non-working cars. Thus, we figure there's more to the story, especially since some people are already poking holes in some of Degusta's statements. We've emailed Degusta and asked him to provide further proof of and details about these bricked cars, but he has not responded yet.

For its part, Tesla has offered AutoblogGreen a fairly noncommittal statement on the matter:

All automobiles require some level of owner care. For example, combustion vehicles require regular oil changes or the engine will be destroyed. Electric vehicles should be plugged in and charging when not in use for maximum performance. All batteries are subject to damage if the charge is kept at zero for long periods of time. However, Tesla avoids this problem in virtually all instances with numerous counter-measures. Tesla batteries can remain unplugged for weeks (even months), without reaching zero state of charge. Owners of Roadster 2.0 and all subsequent Tesla products can request that their vehicle alert Tesla if SOC falls to a low level. All Tesla vehicles emit various visual and audible warnings if the battery pack falls below 5 percent SOC. Tesla provides extensive maintenance recommendations as part of the customer experience.

It's also true that all vehicles will require some attention if they sit unused too long, and people know what happens if you leave your laptop unplugged for two weeks. In the owner's manual for the Roadster 2.0/Roadster Sport, Tesla does say that "Over-discharge can permanently damage the Battery" and that "If storing for more than 15 days, it is strongly recommended that you keep it plugged in" (see the full section on "Leaving the vehicle unplugged" after the jump, or download the manual in PDF here), but it doesn't specify what sort of damage that is, or how expensive it might be to fix it. Tesla spokesman Ricardo Reyes did tell AutoblogGreen that he is working to demystify the situation and will get back to us with more information.

Continue reading Tesla Roadster facing 'brick' battery problems?

Tesla Roadster facing 'brick' battery problems? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Tesla Roadster delayed until after mass-market EV launch

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Tesla, Electric

With the demise of the Lotus Elise in the United States, the Tesla Roadster's fate was sealed. With no chassis rolling out of Hethel, Tesla had to end production of the Roadster and shift its focus to the Model S and the just-revealed Model X.

But some kind of Roadster successor has always been in the cards and as Tesla's SEC filings revealed two years ago, the new sports car was supposed to arrive next year. But according to Elon Musk, the release of the next Tesla Roadster could be as far as four years away. And probably longer.

Speaking with Inside Line, Musk said said that Tesla's next project will be its "Gen 3" electric car; a smaller, mass-market EV that will carry a more affordable price tag. Originally, this new model was going to launch in 2016, but Musk revealed that the automaker is now "thinking early 2015."

While the escalated timeline is good for EVs, it's not good for EV enthusiasts. According to Musk, the next Roadster won't be out until after the Gen 3 launches, and that means Tesla won't have another sports car until 2016 at the earliest.

Next Tesla Roadster delayed until after mass-market EV launch originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is the last Tesla Roadster

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Tesla, Electric

Four years and 2,600 Roadsters later, Tesla is putting its first production vehicle out to pasture at the end of this year. But how do you celebrate the last of a breed? A sports car that put Tesla on the map? With a special edition, of course. And the Roadster you see here isn't just one of five Final Edition Roadsters - it's the last one to ever be produced.

Sporting Atomic Red paint, a duo of dark silver stripes on its hood and rear clamshell, along with exclusive anthracite aluminum wheels, this is number four of five Final Editions slated for North America. Originally, it was headed north of the border, but when the Canadian buyer realized importation would be an issue it went back on sale here in the States. We're sure someone is itching to sign the papers, grab the keys and never look back.

Tesla says each sales region - North America, Europe and Asia - will get five Roadsters specced out exactly as this one, and while there are no performance modifications, with only 15 on the planet, they should fetch a nice purse at the 2035 Barrett-Jackson auctions.

This is the last Tesla Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Court rules Top Gear did not libel Tesla

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Government/Legal, UK, Celebrities, Tesla, Electric

Tesla's libel suit against Top Gear was dealt a crushing blow with London's court ruling that no Top Gear viewer would have reasonably assumed the Tesla Roadster's on-track performance on the show relates to its real-world capabilities.

As you might recall, Top Gear's review of the Roadster concluded by claiming that, "In the real world, it doesn't seem to work" (watch it here). But that's just Top Gear being, well, Top Gear, implies Justice Tugendhat:

In my judgment, the words complained of are wholly incapable of conveying any meaning at all to the effect that the claimant misled anyone. This is because the contrast between the style of driving and the nature of the track as compared with the conditions on a public road are so great that no reasonable person could understand that the performance on the track is capable of a direct comparison with a public road.

The ruling was handed down verbally by Justice Tugendhat before lunch on Wednesday, October 19th. The Tesla versus Top Gear trial will continue as the automaker is suing BBC for five malicious statements made during the Top Gear's 2008 review of the electric Roadster. Tugendhat is expected to return a complete verdict within weeks.

Court rules Top Gear did not libel Tesla originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Artists create amazing "reverse graffiti" car art using pollution and a power washer

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Design/Style

Marc Cameron and Paul "Moose" Curtis, are an artistic twosome that are exceedingly skilled at turning dirt, grime and muck into art. In fact, the pair have teamed up to create our favorite kind of art - the sort that features automobiles as the subject. Starting with a spot on a dirt-covered wall in Munich, Moose and Cameron remove the buildup of gunk in various layers leaving behind their desired image.

It's called "reverse graffiti" or "grime writing," and rather than covering a wall in paint, Cameron and Moose actually clean a portion of the area they're working on. Some stencils, a few helping hands and a high-pressure power washer are the tools at work, and the resulting image not only illustrates how polluted public surfaces can be, it's also wonderful spin on a form of art that's typically frowned up.

Click past the jump to watch a reverse graffiti Tesla Roadster come to life, a project Cameron and Curtis coordinated with German's SZ-Magazin. Also, click through the gallery to get a closer look at some more of Marc and Paul's work, including the Renault Twizy. If you are interested in learning more about Marc's unique work, feel free to email him - Cameron @ Cameron2210.com or check out his website using the link below.

Continue reading Artists create amazing "reverse graffiti" car art using pollution and a power washer

Artists create amazing "reverse graffiti" car art using pollution and a power washer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Together at last - Tesla Model S and Roadster hit the road

Autoblog Staff — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Tesla, Electric

Plug your ears and keep your eyes glued to the screen. What we present here is rare footage of a Tesla Model S and a Tesla Roadster side-by-side on a picturesque, chicane-filled road. The music, in typical Tesla fashion, drowns out any automotive noise, including the wondrous whirring that emanates from these magnificent machines as they whiz on down the road.

So, here's what we'd suggest: plug your ears and imagine those sounds echoing off the nearby hills as the Roadster and Model S strut their electric stuff. Realize, too, that these electric machines are pricey and that the cost of owning one, at least for most of us, is beyond reach. At least the video if free (if, perhaps, not yet supposed to be viewable, says Green Car Reports). Hit the jump to check out the dreamy duo of Teslas in their side-by-side brilliance out on the open road.

Continue reading Together at last - Tesla Model S and Roadster hit the road

Together at last - Tesla Model S and Roadster hit the road originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will Tesla and others lose federal 'hardship' airbag exemption?

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Government/Legal, Safety, Specialty, Tesla, Luxury

Low-volume automakers like Lamborghini and Tesla Motors may soon lose an exemption that allows them to sell cars in the United States with below-standard airbags. The exemption was granted on financial hardship grounds. Now, though, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the expense of airbag technology isn't enough to grant an exception.

Tesla is seeking another exemption for its Roadster, which ceases production later this year. According to Tesla execs, the Model S, which goes on sale in mid-2012, will have airbags that meet NHTSA standards.

Lamborghini brass say the end to the exemptions won't affect them, as all of the automaker's current models meet the latest standards. Although Lotus wouldn't confirm anything, the company likely ended production of the Elise and Exige in this country because of the exemptions' end.

Will Tesla and others lose federal 'hardship' airbag exemption? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video]

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Government/Legal, Hatchback, Tesla, Electric

Tesla vs. Top Gear - Click above to view Top Gear's review after the jump

Tesla has gone to great lengths to publicize its libel suit against Top Gear for the program's 2008 review of the Tesla Roadster. The suit claims that TG's review of the car was rigged, and its assertion that the car doesn't work in the real world had been decided even before Clarkson drove the car.

Until now, there had been no response from the BBC or Top Gear, other than to say they would defend themselves. According to Top Gear producer Andy Wilman, it's their policy to hold back any comment until the matter goes to court. Since Tesla has been so vocal about the case, though, Wilman decided to issue a response.

Wilman responds to Tesla's claims that the show lied about the car's brakes being broken, that its range is only 55 miles and that an overheated motor immobilized the car. Top Gear says the 55-mile range claim came from Tesla engineers who studied data gathered from the car after the test day. Wilman stands by his show's claim that the brakes broke, saying a blown fuse in the vacuum pump made pedal effort abnormally high, and that Tesla wouldn't let them continue the test until the problem was solved.

Whatever side of the matter you stand on, the facts of the case will have to shake out in court. The only thing that seems certain at this point is that the case will likely be long and messy. Click past the jump to see Top Gear's original review and draw your own conclusions.

[Source: Top Gear]

Continue reading Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video]

Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla sues BBC for libel over rigged Top Gear test

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, UK, Tesla, Electric

Let's put this out there: Tesla Motors is a feisty little company. When General Motor tried to trademark "range anxiety," the electric automaker said, "You can have it." Tesla has also had a long-standing beef with the BBC TV show Top Gear, largely because of that memorable 2008 review of the century's first real modern electric vehicle. If you don't remember, that was the show where the Roadster supposedly ran out of energy on the track. The two groups have sniped back and forth over time, but Tesla did what Tesla does and sued Top Gear yesterday for "libel and malicious falsehood" (See the PDF complaint).

Tesla's point is that Top Gear had an idea in mind (that electric vehicles are lame) and staged the show to prove it. On Tesla's blog site, Vice President of Communications, Ricardo Reyes, writes:

The show's script, written before the cars were tested, has host Jeremy Clarkson concluding the segment by saying, "in the real world, it doesn't seem to work." ...

Yet the show continues to air. ... The programme's lies are repeatedly and consistently re-broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers on BBC channels and web sites, on other TV channels via syndication; the show is available on the Internet, and is for sale on DVD around the world.

Not the kind of thing you want repeated, and Reyes says that potential customers still ask Tesla staff about the show's claims, so the staged event has entered the popular mindset. Naturally, a Top Gear spokesman told the BBC news department, "The BBC stands by the programme and will be vigorously defending this claim."

Just because something is interesting to watch on TV does not mean it's true, of course, and in this case the courts will have to figure out what really happened. Us? We're wondering why it has taken Tesla around two years to get around to filing a suit. Either way, you can watch the Top Gear clip in question after the jump. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

[Sources: Tesla, Daily Mail, BBC]

Continue reading Tesla sues BBC for libel over rigged Top Gear test

Tesla sues BBC for libel over rigged Top Gear test originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla catches Christmas spirit, gives away hundreds of Roadsters [w/video]

Autoblog Staff — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games, Tesla, Electric

Radio-controlled Tesla Roadster - Click above to watch video after the jump

In spite of being busy making deals, preparing the Tesla factory and watching the stock price shoot up, the upstart automaker has still found time to remember the people who helped get it where it is today - it's early adopting, Roadster-buying customers. And to share the good cheer, Tesla is giving them yet another Tesla Roadster.

The beneficiaries of Tesla's largess won't be driving these new battery-powered electrics over the river and through the woods to Grandma's, though. These are radio-controlled Roadsters, which could go some way to reinforcing the notion that this new automobile company has a focus on customers like no other. This is an idea that will serve Tesla well as it moves forward toward a brave new oil-free motoring future. Hit the jump for video of the RC Tesla Roadster getting put through its paces.

[Source: Tesla Motors Club]

Continue reading Tesla catches Christmas spirit, gives away hundreds of Roadsters [w/video]

Tesla catches Christmas spirit, gives away hundreds of Roadsters [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car

Zach Bowman — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Tesla, Design/Style, Electric

Laurence Gartel's Tesla Roadster art car - Click above for high-res image gallery

We love ourselves some art cars. Be it a Warhol-liveried BMW M1 or a crochet-covered Morris Minor, few things flip our collective switch quite like the melding of art and automobiles. Tesla has introduced its first foray into the scene with a Roadster worked up by Laurence Gartel. The artist covered each and every one of the electric sports car's body panels in a vinyl wrap with a trippy digital swirl design. Gartel has a history of working in digital art having begun experimenting in the medium in the '70s, and Tesla is a company that identifies with individuals with a technology bent.

Tesla showed its Art Roadster at the Miami Art Basel Festival over the weekend, and the company spent some time motoring around the southern-Florida city during the event. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Laurence Gartel Telsa Art Car

[Source: Tesla]

Continue reading Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car

Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla reports increased revenue, but loses money on Model S development

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings/Financials, Tesla

Tesla Motors is happy with its third quarter results, which boast a 10 percent increase in revenue from last quarter's $28.4 million to $31.2 million, an improved gross margin of 30 percent from 22 percent previously, and a net loss of $34.9 million compared to its second quarter figure of $38.5 million. While an improvement from just a quarter ago, the large net losses this year stem mostly from development costs associated with the upcoming Model S sedan, which is planned for launch in 2012. R&D costs alone shot up from just $1.3 million in last year's Q3 to $26.7 million this year. According to CEO Elon Musk:

We are very pleased to report steady top-line growth and significant growth in gross margin, driven by the continued improvement in Roadster orders and our growing powertrain business. Roadster orders in this quarter hit a new high since the third quarter of 2008, having increased over 15 percent from last quarter. While some of this is due to seasonal effects associated with selling a convertible during the summer months, we are pleased with the global expansion of the Roadster business and the continued validation of Tesla's technology leadership position evidenced by our new and expanding strategic relationships.

The Palo Alto, California-based electric carmaker continues to work hard in the fourth quarter. October was a busy month that included the company's purchase of the old NUMMI manufacturing plant in Fremont, CA and the signing of a $60 million development deal with Toyota for the electric version of the RAV4. In November, Panasonic invested $30 million in Tesla stock. With the company's strategic partnership with Daimler to develop next-generation battery packs on track, the planned launch of the more affordable Model S in 2012, and the continued growth of incentives being offered by countries around the world for the purchase of electric vehicles, Tesla may just yet prove its doubters wrong.

[Source: MarketWatch]

Tesla reports increased revenue, but loses money on Model S development originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Boy receives shock and awe from Tesla Roadster

Chris Shunk — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Tesla

Click above to watch video after the jump

Do you remember the exact moment when you discovered that you loved the automobile? We're not so sure we can pin down that exact moment ourselves, but this video shows the precise second that one young man earns his wheels.

A camera fixed on the face of a youngster taking his first ride in a Tesla Roadster 2.5 shows that internal combustion isn't required for the automobile to dig its claws into our hearts. The post-jump video starts out slowly enough as the young fella chats it up with who appears to be a family friend or relative, but about 22 seconds in said driver slams the Tesla's go pedal, producing one of the most genuine expressions of fear and excitement we've ever seen.

We knew the Tesla Roadster packed a serious battery-powered punch, but we didn't know it could make you call out for your mommy. Hit the jump to watch this boy receive the call and reminisce about your own induction to the class of auto fandom in the comments. Hat tip to Robinson!

Gallery: Review: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Boy receives shock and awe from Tesla Roadster

Video: Boy receives shock and awe from Tesla Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla recalling 439 Roadsters over auxiliary cable problems

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Recalls, Tesla, Electric

Tesla is recalling some 439 Roadsters after discovering a redundant 12v auxiliary cable rubbing against a carbon fiber panel on a customer car. The cable, which helps power a variety of auxiliary electrical systems if the primary cable fails, will be inspected and fitted with a protective sleeve. Only 2.0 and 2.5 Roadsters have the cable, so early adopters with 1.5 models aren't affected by the recall. Full details after the jump.

Continue reading Tesla recalling 439 Roadsters over auxiliary cable problems

Tesla recalling 439 Roadsters over auxiliary cable problems originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jay Leno's Garage revisits the Tesla Roadster

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Celebrities, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Roadster on Jay Leno's Garage, take 2.5 - Click above to watch video after the jump

Jay Leno gets the updated version of the Tesla Roadster, version 2.5, for a spell in the garage, which goes from a two-speed to a single speed transmission, has some revised bodywork front an back, interior upgrades to add more polish and the targa will roll an EPA-certified 245 miles on a charge. Follow the jump for his lengthy take on it, and to hear him compare it to his 1909 Baker Electric.

[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno's Garage revisits the Tesla Roadster

Video: Jay Leno's Garage revisits the Tesla Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla Motors pays fine for lacking emissions Certificate of Conformity

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials, Tesla, Electric

Sometimes, technology moves faster than rules and regulations. For instance, in some parts of Kansas, shops must provide water troughs for horses. A more recently inanity is the requirement that electric vehicles receive an emissions "Certificate of Conformity" from the EPA to comply with the "Clean Air Act." And, while Kansan storekeepers have long been excused from abiding by the obviously obsolete ordinance, such is not the case for America's best known electric car maker, Tesla Motors.

In its Securities and Exchange Commission 10-Q filing for the quarter ending on the 30th of June, Tesla noted that expenses may be incurred from complying (or, in this case, not complying) with the myriad regulations that govern the activity of providing automobiles for sale to the public. As an example of such, it mentions being found in contravention of the requirement to have the aforementioned certificate for the vast majority of 2009. It had the necessary document in 2008. As a result, it and the EPA:

...entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Audit Policy Determination in which we agreed to pay a civil administrative penalty in the sum of $275,000...

Ouch. While it may seem as if Tesla shouldn't need such documentation since its products don't even have a tailpipe, the fact that the company had the proper certification in '08 means it should have known better in '09. Live and learn, eh?

[Source: Tesla Motors via EVTV]

Tesla Motors pays fine for lacking emissions Certificate of Conformity originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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