Tesla Motors opens doors to the rich and famous - LotusTalk

mjf · 05-05-2008, 02:41 PM

Did a search on "tesla" and didn't see this posted.

Tesla Motors opens doors to the rich and famous | Green Tech - CNET News.com

excerpt:

Quote:

Originally Posted by CNet News

Tesla Motors opened its first dealership in Santa Monica, Calif., on Friday, attracting a gaggle of reporters.

The location of the site in the tony Westwood neighborhood reflects the high-end shopping experience it intends to create for the flashy $109,000 Tesla Roadster. The next store, slated to open in San Carlos, Calif. in a couple months, will be set up to appeal to the Silicon Valley tech elite.

Tesla Roadsters ready to roll. Click on the image to see a photo gallery of Roadsters in production.
(Credit: Corinne Schulz/CNET Networks)

The company told the Associated Press that it is impressed with demand: it has taken 600 orders for the Roadster and has a waiting list of another 400. CEO Elon Musk owns the first one produced.

The fancy showroom near Beverly Hills takes its inspiration from Apple stores, Musk said.

"The Apple stores have worked out well. It's a fantastic consumer experience," Musk told AutoWeek. "We wanted a nontraditional automotive experience, and we have it."

LARRY · 05-05-2008, 02:55 PM

Cool! I can't wait to pull up next to one...

Cali · 05-05-2008, 02:57 PM

Nice! It would be cool to drive into the dealership in one of our cars...

smicker · 05-05-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali

Nice! It would be cool to drive into the dealership in one of our cars...

Someone came to the customer open house on Saturday in an '05 purple Elise but I didn't get a chance to track down who it was. Wanted to know if he was on etalk

Cinesnow · 05-05-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjf

Did a search on "tesla" and didn't see this posted.

Tesla Motors opens doors to the rich and famous | Green Tech - CNET News.com

excerpt:

I already did last week

Cinesnow · 05-05-2008, 03:38 PM

Guy pulled up beside me last week in santa monica

not 20 minutes afterwards motor cops were clearing santamonica bl for this convoy of 20 audi R8's

ALSO, the day bofore, this guy with his 67 275 gtb parked behind me! I had a great week last week. Finally TODAY, An orange 08 soft top elise supercharged pulled alongside me accompanied by a 308 (this is why I love LA)

Trevor · 05-05-2008, 06:36 PM

Look at this!

Jay Leno's Garage

FLuXeXigeS · 05-05-2008, 06:43 PM

saw that vid, sweet!!!

i didnt know the Tesla dealer opened already, sheesh im all late

Cali is right, i may have to go and visit the dealer in my exige, lol
always been fond of the tesla but that 220mi range is what killed the deal

cinesnows been all around town, nice pics!

JWA · 05-05-2008, 06:43 PM

$2,000,000 on a showroom seems like an optimistic expense when full production of the final product hasn't even kicked off.

FLuXeXigeS · 05-05-2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWA

$2,000,000 on a showroom seems like an optimistic expense when full production of the final product hasn't even kicked off.

isnt one of their owners from GOOGLE or some kinf of dotcom multi billion dollar company, if so thats chump change to them, and since the 1st run is all spoken for, its not such a bad idea

Bavarian Motorist · 05-05-2008, 06:48 PM

Elon Musk is the founder of PayPal, of course now sold to Ebay. But yeah, he's got dough.

FLuXeXigeS · 05-05-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

Elon Musk is the founder of PayPal, of course now sold to Ebay. But yeah, he's got dough.

thanx for the 411

smicker · 05-05-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinesnow

I already did last week

VP10 looks like it's pulling some serious g's around that corner

codymac · 05-05-2008, 08:09 PM

*shudder*

Am I the only one that keeps visualizing the paparazzi shots of Spears getting out of a car?

ERASE! ERASE! ERASE!

Gizmo3000 · 05-05-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLuXeXigeS

isnt one of their owners from GOOGLE or some kinf of dotcom multi billion dollar company, if so thats chump change to them, and since the 1st run is all spoken for, its not such a bad idea

from wikipedia:

"Financing and Organization

The initial, Series A investment round of USD$7.5 million was led by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk in April 2004 and included Compass Technology Partners. Mr. Musk became Tesla's Chairman of the Board and in February 2005, led Tesla Motors' second, USD$13 million Series B investment round which added Valor Equity Partners to the funding team. Mr. Musk co-led the third, USD$40 million Series C round in May 2006 along with VantagePoint Venture Partners. Tesla's third round included investment from prominent entrepreneurs including Google co-founders Sergey Brin & Larry Page, former eBay President Jeff Skoll, Hyatt heir Nick Pritzker and added the VC firms Draper, Fisher, Jurvetson, Capricorn Management and The Bay Area Equity Fund Managed by JP Morgan.[1]
The fourth, Series D round in May 2007 added another USD$45 million and brought the total investments to over $105 million USD through private financing. Elon Musk, who was President of PayPal before it was bought by eBay, has contributed $37 million of his own money to the company. In August, 2007 Martin Eberhard was replaced by an interim CEO, Michael Marks. In December 2007, Ze'ev Drori became the permanent CEO and President of Tesla Motors. As of January 2008, Tesla Motors had quietly fired several key personnel that had been involved from the inception after a performance review by the new CEO.[2] [3]"

Audiophile · 05-12-2008, 06:35 AM

I think Tesla is a safe investment, and clearly so do others. Anything to get our oil consumption down is a step in the right direction, this is boarder line practical and is only the first generation. Keep in mind the Roadster is the first car they plan to launch with in a few years they will have a mid-sized sedan priced in the 50-70k range, competing in the 5 series, GS, E class arena. Tesla has a solid business plan and brilliant people working on it, unless there is some major break through in technology I think they are moving in a wise and profitable direction.

FLuXeXigeS · 05-12-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gizmo3000

from wikipedia:

"Financing and Organization

The initial, Series A investment round of USD$7.5 million was led by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk in April 2004 and included Compass Technology Partners. Mr. Musk became Tesla's Chairman of the Board and in February 2005, led Tesla Motors' second, USD$13 million Series B investment round which added Valor Equity Partners to the funding team. Mr. Musk co-led the third, USD$40 million Series C round in May 2006 along with VantagePoint Venture Partners. Tesla's third round included investment from prominent entrepreneurs including Google co-founders Sergey Brin & Larry Page, former eBay President Jeff Skoll, Hyatt heir Nick Pritzker and added the VC firms Draper, Fisher, Jurvetson, Capricorn Management and The Bay Area Equity Fund Managed by JP Morgan.[1]
The fourth, Series D round in May 2007 added another USD$45 million and brought the total investments to over $105 million USD through private financing. Elon Musk, who was President of PayPal before it was bought by eBay, has contributed $37 million of his own money to the company. In August, 2007 Martin Eberhard was replaced by an interim CEO, Michael Marks. In December 2007, Ze'ev Drori became the permanent CEO and President of Tesla Motors. As of January 2008, Tesla Motors had quietly fired several key personnel that had been involved from the inception after a performance review by the new CEO.[2] [3]"

good 411, thanx

LARRY · 05-12-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audiophile

I think Tesla is a safe investment, and clearly so do others. Anything to get our oil consumption down is a step in the right direction, this is boarder line practical and is only the first generation. Keep in mind the Roadster is the first car they plan to launch with in a few years they will have a mid-sized sedan priced in the 50-70k range, competing in the 5 series, GS, E class arena. Tesla has a solid business plan and brilliant people working on it, unless there is some major break through in technology I think they are moving in a wise and profitable direction.

Absolutely!

delise · 06-02-2008, 12:45 PM

I think I just saw that light blue Tesla driving down main in Santa Monica near city hall. Guy took off at the light, not a peep to be heard , pretty cool. I drove past the dealership yesterday , it is on Santa Monica Blvd & Sepulveda, and is actually in West LA not Santa Monica. I did not have time to drop by but I also figured they don't want Elise owners popping by and confusing potential customers......

05-05-2008, 02:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
LARRY It's a Lotus Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beverly Hills, Ca. Posts: 12,097	Cool! I can't wait to pull up next to one... __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise, Sports & Touring Packages, Hard Top, Stage II Exhaust, '07 Probax leather seats. Los Angeles Lotus Service by Qais at 310-200-0022. "We know they're magical and worth every minute we spend on them. The whole Lotus owners' world is like a secret handshake among people who understand that." (R&T) Last edited by LARRY : 05-05-2008 at 03:00 PM.

05-05-2008, 02:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cali Baron Lotus Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 667	Nice! It would be cool to drive into the dealership in one of our cars... __________________ 2006 Sport Elise #38 "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?" - George Carlin

05-05-2008, 06:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
FLuXeXigeS ...disappearing posts... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal/AZ/NV Posts: 4,278	saw that vid, sweet!!! i didnt know the Tesla dealer opened already, sheesh im all late Cali is right, i may have to go and visit the dealer in my exige, lol always been fond of the tesla but that 220mi range is what killed the deal cinesnows been all around town, nice pics! __________________ -Coi-'07 AR Exige S+Gotham, Von Hep, corner balanced&tuned SACHS, 6k HID, JVC KD-NX5000, Alpine 4ch. amp, JL stealth box, s111 rear towhook and harness bar, Starshield, TG4 1/4 turn fasteners, SS brake lines, bling bling eng bay, painted calipers, TD 1.2 wheels w/ Toyo R888, Safecraft harnesses, DRL delete, s111 CRD mount. add me: www.myspace.com/kandyredcoi & lotuscar.ning.com/profile/KandyRedCoi

05-05-2008, 06:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bavarian Motorist Live to Drive Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rye, NY Posts: 8,239	Elon Musk is the founder of PayPal, of course now sold to Ebay. But yeah, he's got dough. __________________ Driving a Lotus Exige with sticky... performance tires on icy roads or in standing water is about as much fun as walking a high wire treated with WD-40 - Car & Driver BWR supercharged... I suppose I "got the power" now??

05-05-2008, 08:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
codymac short angry bloke Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: where the east tapers out and the west begins Posts: 8,498 Images: 19	shudder Am I the only one that keeps visualizing the paparazzi shots of Spears getting out of a car? ERASE! ERASE! ERASE! __________________ torque (tôrk) n. - an excuse for the lack of momentum. - let's bring back CanAm & Group B! - have you hugged your Exige today? I'm currently working on my performance driving merit badge. There's always somebody faster, sometimes it's me.

05-05-2008, 03:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cinesnow Cinesnow Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lake Arrowhead, Ca / Sandpoint, Id Posts: 70	Guy pulled up beside me last week in santa monica not 20 minutes afterwards motor cops were clearing santamonica bl for this convoy of 20 audi R8's ALSO, the day bofore, this guy with his 67 275 gtb parked behind me! I had a great week last week. Finally TODAY, An orange 08 soft top elise supercharged pulled alongside me accompanied by a 308 (this is why I love LA)

05-05-2008, 06:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
Trevor Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 51	Look at this! Jay Leno's Garage

05-05-2008, 06:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
JWA #33 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 3,284	$2,000,000 on a showroom seems like an optimistic expense when full production of the final product hasn't even kicked off.

05-12-2008, 06:35 AM	#16 (permalink)
Audiophile Just say no Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Outside Albany, NY Posts: 312	I think Tesla is a safe investment, and clearly so do others. Anything to get our oil consumption down is a step in the right direction, this is boarder line practical and is only the first generation. Keep in mind the Roadster is the first car they plan to launch with in a few years they will have a mid-sized sedan priced in the 50-70k range, competing in the 5 series, GS, E class arena. Tesla has a solid business plan and brilliant people working on it, unless there is some major break through in technology I think they are moving in a wise and profitable direction. __________________ 08 S2000 - daily driver

06-02-2008, 12:45 PM	#19 (permalink)
delise 2005 Ardent Red, Touring Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Beverly Hills Posts: 2,136	I think I just saw that light blue Tesla driving down main in Santa Monica near city hall. Guy took off at the light, not a peep to be heard , pretty cool. I drove past the dealership yesterday , it is on Santa Monica Blvd & Sepulveda, and is actually in West LA not Santa Monica. I did not have time to drop by but I also figured they don't want Elise owners popping by and confusing potential customers...... __________________ "You can run over an insect and know just from the messages coming through the wheel how many legs it had. Was it a beetle? Was it a spider? Hang on......... spider." Jeremy Clarkson - Top Gear

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