Tesla opens second store in Menlo Park
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Tesla Motors held the grand opening of its Northern California dealership in Menlo Park Saturday evening. A slew of valet parkers greeted. Then, I walked down the red carpet past an orange Tesla Roadster to the large showroom. Beyond the gazpacho cocktails and first of three full bars one entered the even larger service area where the Elon Musk and Ze'ev Drori mingled among the hundred or so invited guests. Conversation with various Tesla personnel revealed that founder Martin Eberhard received his repaired Roadster earlier in the day. Presumably his blog will shortly contain his first impressions. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, I was told, will be delivered his Roadster within a few weeks, although the color remains top secret. Once he and the state's First Lady Maria Shriver spend some time driving this powerful and impressive electric car one can only hope state policies will begin to reflect the near-term role that plug-in cars can play in carbon and petroleum reduction.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
EvPal 8:03PM (7/20/2008)
Tesla need to know there is now a DOMESTIC producer of the battery they use. It's ElectoEnergy,inc and they produce in Gainsville Florida.
By using local supplier they can reduce cost and make the car more affordable.
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Ignatius 11:50PM (7/20/2008)
Aren't the words "affordable sports car" an oxymoron?
Serge 10:21AM (7/21/2008)
Cheaper, mass-produced LiOn battery might be an interesting proposition for for Model S.
Gabe 9:09PM (7/20/2008)
Is Arnie getting a Founder's series or have they started planning delivery of the Signature series?
The ultimate test of trunk space would be if the Governator can fit his golf clubs AND Danny Devito in the trunk.
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Gabe 9:49PM (7/20/2008)
And add more pics please!
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tankd0g 9:14PM (7/20/2008)
It's official, lattes and t-shirts are their main revenue stream.
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Trev 6:16AM (7/21/2008)
Nah I'm pretty sure its still the "paying for a car that shows no signs of delivery anytime soon" thing.
Doug 9:47PM (7/20/2008)
It was a nice event. Didn't seems as swanky as the LA opening, but cool nonetheless.
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Joseph 10:48PM (7/20/2008)
"Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, I was told, will be delivered his Roadster within a few weeks, although the color remains top secret."
Maybe that's because Tesla has learned that people take the color of their car quite personally. On his blog, Martin didn't like it that Tesla revealed the color scheme of his car before it was delivered for the world to see.
Or maybe it's because Arnold's car is pink!
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Mark 2:46AM (7/22/2008)
Keep up the great work Tesla. Get your cheaper version out as soon as possible, ramp up production and stomp on the big guys.
I still don't understand how Ford, GM etc. can't figure this out. People want electric cars. Get them to market or die.
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