Tesla Motors to open showroom in Paris by month's end

Tesla's recently hired vice president of design and store development, George Blankenship, the man known as the mastermind behind Apple's highly successful retail strategy, has big dreams to expand sales operations of the electric sportscar maker and it all begins with a showroom in Paris. Blankenship will elaborate on Tesla's sales strategy at the opening of the Paris Motor Show on October 1st, but prior to that, the company hopes to swing open the doors of its Paris showroom on the Avenue Kleber near the famed Arc De Triomphe and let the French see what they've been missing out on.

For Tesla, the opening of the Paris showroom is part of the company's efforts to bring its Roadster to the buyers, which are mainly upper-class individuals with a passion for driving and a commitment to going green. Tesla plans additional showrooms in Washington, D.C. and Tokyo, Japan, but the Paris one is first in line. With the opening of the Paris showroom, Tesla will have 14 retail stores worldwide, but expansion efforts should raise that number in no time.

[Source: New Mexico Business Weekly]

PRESS RELEASE

Tesla to open Paris store next week

Automaker's newest showroom will open to the public Sept. 30 and host media and test drives throughout the Paris Motor Show.

PARIS, France -- (BUSINESS WIRE) - Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors will open its newest showroom Sept. 30 in the heart of Paris, just in time for the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

Tesla's 14th worldwide store, at 41 Avenue Kléber, is walking distance to the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées, with a view of the Eiffel Tower. The Paris store will serve Tesla owners throughout France, Belgium and the Netherlands – and offer test drives to prospective customers visiting the capital for work or pleasure.

"The Paris store provides an immediate, highly visible presence in one of Europe's most important cities," said George Blankenship, Tesla's Vice President of Design and Store Development. "We want to create stylish, inviting places to buy cars and learn about 21st century vehicle technology."

Blankenship, who joined Tesla earlier this year, is best known as the architect of Apple's brand-building retail strategy. Blankenship and other executives will elaborate on Tesla's exciting retail plans at an Oct. 1 news conference at the Paris Motor Show, including plans for Tokyo and Washington, DC.

Tesla is revolutionizing automobile ownership – starting at the point of purchase. Unlike traditional car dealerships, Tesla stores are designed to be welcoming destinations where people can buy cars and learn about Tesla's industry-leading technology.

Tesla is also improving the ownership experience through its mobile service technicians, who provide "house calls" and can perform annual inspections, software upgrades and other services at owners' homes and offices. The unique program gives customers peace of mind and unparalleled convenience – whether or not they live near a showroom.

French Connection

France, one of Tesla's top markets in Europe, has aggressively promoted renewable energy development, particularly wind and solar power. The government wants renewable to account for 20 percent of the country's total energy consumption by 2020. Roadster owners get a waiver of €2.500 in traditional administrative fees and a €5.000 cash rebate.

Roadster owners can park and charge for free at hundreds of charging stations nationwide – one of the world's most extensive charging networks. But Roadster owners typically just plug their cars into conventional outlets: The Roadster comes with an extension cord that plugs into any outlet, similar to laptops or mobile phones. No special infrastructure is needed.

The Roadster accelerates faster than other sports car in its price class yet has zero tailpipe emissions. It consumes no petroleum and plugs into conventional sockets – at owners' homes or office parking lots, hotels, resorts and shopping malls. The Roadster, which gets 340 kms per charge, is the only sports car that can be fully or partially recharged by renewable energy.

About Tesla

Tesla's goal is to produce energy-efficient cars for mass-market, mainstream consumers. Tesla has already delivered about 1,300 zero-emission cars in at least 30 countries. With a relentless focus on customer service, Tesla sells cars directly to clients, both online and at the following European showrooms: London, Monaco, Zurich, Munich, Copenhagen and Paris starting Sept. 30. Tesla has eight additional showrooms in North America.