Tesla now reports over 700 orders for Model S in first 2 weeks
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Tesla Model S
A week after Tesla began accepting orders for its new Model S electric sedan, the company reported that it had accepted over 500 reservations. Another week has passed, and about 200 more order forms have reportedly been collected for a total of 711 deposits. At this point, we're still not sure how those orders break down between the standard Model S or the range-topping Signature Series, of which 2,000 total units will be made. Buyers looking for a standard-fare Model S need to plunk down a refundable $5,000 deposit to hold their reservations; those intending to drive home a new Signature Series need to put down a whopping (though also refundable) $40,000 deposit.
Tesla plans to launch production of the 7-seat Model S electric sedan in late 2011. Something tells us that demand will remain high for Tesla's latest vehicle – the Silicon Valley automaker claims to have nearly 1,000 customers currently on the waiting list for its first vehicle, the Roadster.
Gallery: Tesla Model S
[Source: Carscoop]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jharlan 9:24AM (4/13/2009)
It's timing. This guy was first with real, beautiful, usable electric cars with a reasonable range, and he should reap the benefits. Everyone else is still scrambling around with tiny cars with limited range, NEVS, or trying to get some kind of EV off the drawing board. He has won us over.
Reply
Randy C. 10:38AM (4/13/2009)
When you see reports like this it makes you wonder if GM was telling the truth about the EV1. They said that in the end "they could only lease 850 cars" as if they had to force people to take them.
While it was simple matter of GM did everything it could to make driving an EV1 unpalatable. The leases were expensive and you could only lease not purchase. You had to have a home that could be upgraded to NEC 625 standards (at your expense of course). They made you wait months for the car. You had to deal with a special charger that cost over $2000 each. Etceteras etceteras. See the film "Who Killed the Electric Car" for all of the details.
Reply
Richard in FLA 11:35AM (4/13/2009)
I would buy one, too expensive, but if the following models are cheaper, I'm in.
Tesla deserve the low interest loans, it's obvious that they have a desirable product. GM is a waste of everybody's time. GM should die, and let a capable, efficient company take up the slack. Fear not GM lovers, better cars are on the way.
Reply
dave 2:51PM (4/13/2009)
This is good news no matter how you look at it. Model S's will replace some amount of gas/hybrid cars and lay the ground work for more reliable and affordable technology that will be more widely available down the road. Everyone needs to be careful about making blanket justifications about whether this car is "good or bad". In reality, these things completely depend on your individual situation. If you have a long commute, live in an area that has high gas prices, and are looking to buy a car..a Model S or Prius probably makes sense. If you work from home, probably not.
Electric cars, and to a lesser extent hybrids, have benefits far beyond fuel savings. They never need a SMOG check, oil change, or exhaust system tune up, have far less consumables (I'm only 20% worn on my original Prius brake pads after 110,000 miles!), and require less frequent maintenance (every 12k miles vs ever 5k). Plus there are benefits that include government tax credits (I think it's close to $7500 for the Model S), free parking, carpool lane stickers, and even free charging at public charge stations and many work places. Of course, each of these things will mean something different to each person. They may or may not off set the higher initial cost/insurance/registration..but in many cases, they will.
I think Tesla has shown a very innovative business model. They are getting customers/"investors" with the interest and money to do so, to take on a bit of risk and fund the next development cycle. The longer you can wait for this..the better and cheaper the product will be. This is the future and as time has shown us, new technologies start costly and come rapidly down in price. Thankfully, there are people/early adopters that are willing to take a chance and pay the price so that these things become available to everyone.
Reply