Tesla Reaches Major Milestone With Delivery of 500th Battery-Electric Roadster
In what is yet more proof that Tesla Motors is on its way to becoming a major automaker, the company announced today that it had reached an important milestone for the electric-vehicle manufacturer - the delivery of its 500th Roadster.
The lucky recipient is New Jersey philanthropist Martin Tuchman, chairman of The Tuchman Foundation, shown here beside his twilight-blue Roadster. Tesla spokeswoman Rachel Konrad said he plans to charge his zero-emissions Roadster partly with solar energy, thanks to photovoltaic panels he helped install throughout his hometown of Kingston, N.J.
"My Roadster drives like a dream. It's amazing," Tuchman, a former automotive engineer and owner of a 1967 Mercedes 250, said in a statement. He said he plans to use his Roadster as his primary commuter car.
Tuchman took delivery of his Roadster last weekend, a few weeks before the anticipated opening of a Tesla showroom in New York's Chelsea Art District. Greater New York is Tesla's largest market outside of California, and local EV owners enjoy numerous incentives.
Zero-emission vehicles are exempt from New Jersey sales, use and luxury taxes. Single occupants of alternative-fuel vehicles may also use the high-occupancy commuter lanes on the New Jersey Turnpike.
These incentives are on top of a $7,500 US federal tax credit, which fully applies to all Tesla Roadsters.
Tesla will also soon be opening stores in Chicago, London, Seattle, Miami, Washington, Monaco and Munich. Tesla will begin deliveries in Europe this summer.
San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla is the only production automaker selling highway-capable EVs in the United States or Europe. The Roadster beats nearly every other car for acceleration yet is twice as energy efficient as a Toyota Prius. It costs roughly $4 to refuel and can be completely recharged in as little as 3.5 hours.
Michael van der Sande, Tesla Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Service and Marketing, called the 500th delivery an important symbol for the world's newest production automaker.
"We now have more than 500 real-world customers providing valuable feedback on our cars and contributing to Tesla's spirit of continuous improvement," van der Sande said. "We intend to leverage our first-mover advantage and continue to build brand loyalty for years - from our 500th to our 500,000th delivery."
- Posted by
- Scott Doggett June 2, 2009, 12:28 PM
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- Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Plug-ins and Electric, Tax Incentives, Tesla
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- Batteries, Plug-In Electric Vehicle, Tax Incentives, Tesla Motors, Tesla Roadster, Zero Emission Vehicles
I'm not so sure 500 vehicles qualifies them as "becoming a major automaker," but kudos to them anyway for doing what no other company can.
I don't want to take away from Tesla, but other companies have. Both Ford and Toyota have sold more EVs.