The state of California received some very good news lately when electric car manufacturer, Tesla Motors, purchased an 89 acre spread near San Jose. The property will be used to build the company's new manufacturing facility for its upcoming S Model sedan.
Along with the factory, Tesla Motors will also build its brand new company headquarters, ensuring that the automaker stays close to its California roots. Tesla was founded in San Jose back in 2003, but had considered moving to New Mexico when that state offered an attractive incentive package. The new facility will be located just twenty miles away from its current headquarters.
For California, the state will have to offer a rent abatement for ten years and they've promised to waive the sales tax on the car when it goes into production, at least for California buyers. In exchange, Tesla Motors will create as many as 1000 new jobs for the manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters combined, clearly something that will help the tech industry in the Silicon Valley.
Earlier in 2008, Tesla finally got its luscious Roadster into production, a car that is built on a Lotus assembly line in the United Kingdom. That car quietly rockets occupants from zero to sixty in just 3.9 seconds while providing a handsome 245 mile range for each charge. Powered by a state of the art lithium-ion battery, the $98,000 Roadster is a real head turner, just the kind of car that brings much enthusiasm to the green market.
As far as the S Model goes, Tesla Motors isn't saying a whole lot about the car just yet. We do know that they want to build as many as 15,000 units annually and sell each car for about $60,000. Tesla has its eye on premium manufacturers including BMW, Mercedes, and Audi to position the S Model, which is expected to seat five adults. A similar mile range is expected with the S Model which is expected to go into production in late 2010.
With the S Model, don't expect Tesla to do the expected. Talk of including a small gas engine to extend its range, ala the Chevrolet Volt, has been aired something that could expand the car's appeal to include people who want to take their sedan on long trips. As it stands right now, the Roadster must be recharged when it runs out of juice, an overnight task that currently limits the sportscar's range.
Tesla Motors isn't the only electric car manufacturer in the news lately. Fisker Automotive and ZAP Electric Cars are also making plans to roll out their first models within the next year or two.
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