Showing posts with label Tesla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tesla. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Tesla unveil prices for Model S starting @ $50,000


Tesla Motors launched a Web page today showing the base model, with a 40 kilowatt-hour battery pack, costing $49,900. The 60 kilowatt-hour model runs $59,900, and it's another $10,000 jump to the 85 kilowatt-hour model. Go up to $79,900 for the Performance model, which also comes with the 85 kilowatt-hour battery pack and a zero to 60 mph time of 4.4 seconds. All of those prices are after a federal tax credit of $7,500.

Those battery packs give the Model S an estimated range at 55 mph of 160 miles, 230 miles, and 300 miles respectively. Tesla says this pricing is only guaranteed for current reservation holders. Pricing for new buyers may change when the car goes into production next year.

Unfortunately, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in November next year’s production of its new Model S sedan has already sold out.

Source: Tesla Motors Blog

Friday, November 4, 2011

Tesla Says Model S Sold Out [video]



Tesla Motors has sold out of next year’s production of its new Model S sedan and should earn a profit in 2013, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said in a Bloomberg Television interview.

The company has orders for “more than 6,500” units of Model S to be built next year, Musk said. The premium electric sedan will retail for as little as about $50,000, half the price of Tesla’s current Roadster sports car, he said.

“They’re mostly new buyers,” Musk, 40, said in an interview on “In The Loop With Betty Liu” today. “Only about 600 people who have ordered Roadsters have also bought the Model S.”
Tesla, which counts Daimler AG (DAI), Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) and Panasonic Corp. (6752) as investors, aims to deliver the electric sedans by mid-2012 as the Palo Alto, California-based company works to be the first profitable maker of battery-powered autos. The company has yet to report an annual profit.

That may happen in 2013, Musk said. The company is scheduled to announce financial results for the quarter that ended on Sept. 30 on Nov. 2.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Tesla plans all-new Roadster


Next year’s Tesla Model S saloon is just the first model planned by the Californian electric car maker in an aggressive product roll-out that includes an all-new Roadster and a range of cars to rival the BMW 3-series.

The 5-series-sized Model S will spawn a crossover Model X variant next year, and it’s likely to be followed by a cabriolet in 2013. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also confirmed to Autocar that in 2014 the firm will launch a new Roadster, which will no longer be based on Lotus mechanicals.

Although Tesla has made a loss on every Roadster sold, Musk said the car was significant in helping to establish the firm and electric cars in general. “Bob Lutz has said the Roadster prompted General Motors to do the Chevrolet Volt,” he said. “We’re trying to change the industry.”

Musk added that the new Roadster would be based on a “third-generation platform”, which is likely to be a shortened version of the architecture just developed for the Model S and its derivatives.

“This platform will spawn a range of cars in the next four to five years,” Musk said. “It’ll be a more mass-market platform for cars like a 3-series as well as the new Roadster. These cars will supplement the Model S range.”

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Panasonic and Tesla Sign 4 year, 80,000 Vehicle Battery Deal


Panasonic Corporation and Tesla Motors finalized a supply agreement for automotive-grade lithium-ion battery cells. Panasonic is the world's leading battery cell manufacturer and a diverse supplier to the global automotive industry. Panasonic's automotive grade lithium-ion battery cells will be used in Tesla's premium electric sedan, Model S.

The agreement supplies Tesla with Panasonic's lithium-ion battery cells to build more than 80,000 vehicles over the next four years. It guarantees the availability of enough cells in 2012 to meet Tesla's aggressive production ramp-up and fulfillment of more than 6,000 existing Model S reservations. This supply agreement helps ensure Tesla will meet its cost and margin targets for Model S.

This agreement builds upon a multi-year collaboration between Panasonic and Tesla to develop next-generation automotive-grade battery cells and accelerate the market expansion of electric vehicles. In 2009, Panasonic and Tesla initially entered into a supply agreement. In 2010, Panasonic invested $30 million in Tesla to deepen the partnership and foster the growth of the electric vehicle industry.

Panasonic supplies cells with the highest energy density and industry-leading performance using its nickel-type cathode technology. Panasonic and Tesla together have developed a next-generation battery cell based on this nickel chemistry and optimized specifically for electric vehicle quality and life. These new cells will combine with Tesla's proven EV battery expertise gained from more than 15 million customer miles driven in Tesla Roadsters and thousands of hours of cell and battery testing to create the most capable electric vehicle ever produced, Model S.

"It is a powerful endorsement of our technology that Panasonic, the world's leading battery cell manufacturer, has chosen to partner with Tesla to advance electric vehicle performance and value," said Tesla Co-Founder and CEO Elon Musk. "Incorporating Panasonic's next-generation cells into Model S batteries will ensure unrivaled range and performance. We are very grateful for our great partnership with Panasonic."

"Panasonic will supply lithium ion cells for EVs that can achieve longer range with large energy density. It is our pleasure to start supplying the cells for Tesla's Model S and promote sustainable mobility," said Masato Ito, President, Energy Company of Panasonic Corporation.
Tesla is a supplier of batteries and powertrains to Toyota and Daimler. Tesla is a comprehensive electric vehicle powertrain component supplier to the electric vehicle industry.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

100th Swiss Tesla Roadster Hits the Road



Tesla Motors delivered the 100th Roadster in Switzerland to its new owner Martin Meier just four months after the first anniversary of the opening of Tesla's Zurich Store. The Swiss architect received the keys of his Obsidian Black electric Roadster from George Blankenship, Tesla's Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Ownership Experience.

"The main reason I bought the Roadster is that I don't want to explain to my young daughter why I didn't do more for the environment," said Meier, who bought the Roadster with his business partner. "From now on, I'll drive entirely emissions-free with electric power derived from the river next to my house. It feels great to be completely independent of the oil industry."

Switzerland has the highest per capita Tesla ownership of any country. "The fact that Switzerland has embraced the Roadster makes complete sense. Swiss consumers are thought leaders who seek out cutting edge technology as well as environmentally-responsible solutions," explains Blankenship. "The Roadster, a revolutionary high-performance sports car with zero emissions that can be charged completely with renewable energy, offers all of this, and more."

The Roadster accelerates faster than most supercars yet produces no emissions. It consumes no petroleum and plugs into conventional sockets – in owners' garages or offices, hotels, parking decks or at a growing number of charging stations throughout Switzerland. Several Swiss customers charge their Roadsters on 100 percent solar power from their photovoltaic panels.

Unlike petrol-powered vehicles, the single-speed Roadster does not require oxygen and therefore does not lose efficiency at altitude. Roadster owners can drive with utmost confidence on Alpine passes, enjoying the car's legendary torque without lag or downshifting. Regenerative braking allows the Roadster to recover energy on downhill stretches. Sophisticated power management software means the Roadster's revolutionary traction control is almost instantaneous.
About Tesla

Tesla's goal is to accelerate the world's transition to electric mobility with a full range of increasingly affordable electric cars. Palo Alto, California-based Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components. Tesla has delivered more than 1,800 Roadsters, the world's first electric sports car, to customers world-wide. Model S, the first premium sedan to be built from the ground up as an electric vehicle, goes on the market in North America in mid-2012, and in Europe and Asia in late 2012.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Tesla offer Model S Test Rides @ Factory open day [video]



Tesla Motors threw open its factory doors to customers who have preordered its forthcoming Model S sedan on Saturday evening.

Customers were given tours of the Fremont, California, factory, rides in a prototype of the Model S, and a plea for support from Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, a co-founder of PayPal.

"We need your help," he told hundreds of customers after driving onto a stage in a red Model S, saying many people thought of electric cars as unrealistic "unicorns." He asked the crowd to talk up the car and announced Tesla would be introducing a faster Model S that goes from zero to 60 miles per hour/97 kph in 4.5 seconds, shaving more than a second off current acceleration.

Tesla is hanging much of its future on the Model S, its first sedan, which it hopes to start delivering to customers next year. Its executives believe its production will help the company move into the black after years of losses.

The goal is to widen Tesla's scope beyond being a niche brand that sells only the expensive Roadster sports car. The base model of the Model S will cost about $57,400 compared to the Roadster's base price of $109,000, before a $7,500 federal tax credit and other rebates.

Tesla automobiles have captured the public imagination and helped spur Detroit to work on its own electric vehicles. Last year, General Motors started selling its hybrid Chevrolet Volt. On the higher end, Anaheim, California-based Fisker Automotive recently started delivery of its luxury hybrid Karma.

Tesla's Model S will have three battery offerings that will be designed to have a range of 160 miles/257 km, 230 miles/370 km or 300 miles/483 km on a full charge.

For the Tesla factory's visitors, who had all placed deposits on the new sedans, the highlight was a chance at a short drive in a test version of the Model S. With the last rides booked for 1 a.m./0500 GMT, guests had to content themselves with nibbling on smoked salmon and macaroons and ogling factory robots while they waited.

Tracy and Carl Quinn of San Jose, California, said buying a Model S underscored their commitment to a healthier environment. "We're a pretty green family in general," said Tracy Quinn. "We put solar panels on our roof."

She said she would likely be adding more panels to power the sedan in addition to the Tesla Roadster they already own.

For Teddy Hagerty of Tacoma, Washington, buying the car was more about having something unique.

"That feeling of being first, that's just such a good feeling," he said. Besides, he needs something a bit more fuel efficient than the 12-miles-per-gallon/24 litres per 100 km Chevrolet 300 he said he currently drives.

In January 2012, Tesla will phase out the Tesla Roadster to focus on the Model S. The Tesla Roadster sports car has a base price of $109,000. Most are selling at $140,000 or more.

The company plans to unveil its Model X sports utility prototype in December. The Model X is due out in late 2013.

Tesla, based in Palo Alto, California, held an initial public offering of stock in June 2010. Its private backers ranged from top-notch venture-capital firms like Draper Fisher Jurvetson and VantagePoint Capital Partners to Silicon Valley heavyweights like Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. It also won a $465 million loan guarantee in 2009 from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Tesla now has approx 1,400 workers.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Chief Minister won over by electric vehicle


Katy Gallagher's legs may have been trembling as she alighted from an impromptu spin in a two-door electric sports car, but she admitted she could get used to driving it.

The ACT Chief Minister was launching the Canberra International Electric Vehicle Festival yesterday, an event that has grown steadily in the three years since its inception, and now includes about 20 examples of the types of electronic cars that will soon be available in Australia.

The owner of the Tesla sports car she climbed out of, Jay McCormack, who is also the company's national sales and marketing manager, said many people would be driving electric cars within 10 years.

And, like mobile phones and flat-screen televisions, the market would simply adjust and the cars would become more affordable as the technology improved.

''The next generation car will be half the price - it's all based on battery technology,'' he said.

The Tesla Roadster Sport ran on 6831 lithium-ion batteries - the same as those used in laptops - and took about three hours to recharge.

But thanks to a deal struck between ActewAGL and electric car network Better Place Australia, Canberra will soon be the first place in Australia to have battery switch stations, where drivers can pull in, have the depleted battery removed, and replaced automatically and be back on the road within four minutes.

Better Place spokeswoman Felicity Glennie-Holmes said Canberra was the obvious entry point for the scheme.

''Canberra is designed for driving and many households have more than one vehicle,'' Ms Glennie-Holmes said.

The full commercial roll-out of the scheme was expected by the middle of next year, with a progressive national roll-out to continue in 2013.

Ms Gallagher said Canberra was also the only place in Australia that gave stamp duty exemption for electric vehicles, and that she expected to see more and more of them on the roads, especially once family-vehicles became available.

ACT Electric Vehicle Council chairman Ivan Slavich said it was only a matter of time before most car manufacturers had produced affordable electric models, as the continued use of fossil fuels became unfeasible.

''If they don't do it, they won't survive,'' he said.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Toyota and Tesla to Build RAV4 EV in Ontario Canada


Toyota and Tesla Motors confirmed today that their jointly-developed RAV4 electric vehicle will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in Woodstock, Ontario beginning in 2012.

“The Tesla-Toyota joint development team has agreed that building the vehicle at the Woodstock plant on the same line as the gasoline-powered RAV4, will streamline and simplify the production process and guarantee the highest level of quality control,” said Ray Tanguay, TMMC Chairman, who hosted Canadian officials at the plant today and thanked them for their support. “This is a great example of Toyota’s determination to collaborate with companies with leading edge technology.”

As previously announced, Toyota will pay Tesla approximately $100 million to supply the electric powertrain, which includes the battery, motor, gear box and power electronics for the RAV4 EV. Tesla will build the electric powertrains at its production facility in Palo Alto, California and then ship them to TMMC for final assembly into the vehicle.

The RAV4 EV will be sold at U.S. Toyota dealers through Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS). Details including pricing, volume and regional distribution will be determined and announced at a later time.

In July of last year, Tesla and Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing, America (TEMA) collaborated to convert 32 conventional gas-engine RAV4 compact SUVs into fully functional RAV4 EV prototypes.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Tesla Model S Alpha track testing [video]



From enhancing performance and tuning the suspension to quieting the interior and optimizing efficiency, Tesla engineers are applying knowledge gained from Alpha testing as they begin building Beta vehicles. Get a sneak peek at the first footage of multiple Model S Alpha sedans having fun together on the track.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Toyota RAV4 EV Coming to Market in 2012


Recent reports have incorrectly stated that the 2012 RAV4 EV will only be marketed to fleet and car sharing programs. We’d like to set the record straight. The 2012 RAV4 EV will definitely be sold to the general public. We anticipate robust public interest in the RAV4 EV and are keen to inform consumers that their future vehicle options include a battery electric Toyota.

Toyota is the only manufacturer bringing two battery electric vehicles to the market in 2012 - the RAV4 EV and the Scion iQ EV. While the RAV4 EV will be available to the public, the Scion iQ EV will be marketed to fleet and car sharing programs only.

Multiple reports have been corrected on various automotive blog sites

Toyota

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Tesla Roadsters are almost sold out


With production drawing to a close, Tesla Motors Inc. has sold almost all of the remaining electric Roadsters destined for the U.S. market, said Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk. Supplies will last longer in Europe and Japan, but not by much.

"I think there's a handful of cars left to sell in the U.S.," Musk said. "People in Europe and Japan probably have another six months to place orders for the Roadster. In the U.S., it's maybe a month or two."

And that's after Tesla reached an agreement with Britain's Lotus Cars, which makes the Roadster's chassis, to produce an extra 100 of the vehicles. The full production run, which began in 2008, will end at 2,500 cars.

"So if somebody has an interest in buying a Roadster, they had best put in an order very, very soon," Musk said.

Tesla, based in Palo Alto, reported last year that it would stop making the Roadster before the company's next car, the Model S, hits the market in 2012. Lotus plans to retool its manufacturing facility, and Tesla chose to devote all its effort to the Model S rather than find another supplier.

But buyers have snapped up the remaining Roadsters faster than expected. In Tesla's last quarterly earnings report, the company predicted that Roadster sales in North America would finish by the end of the year.

Many electric-car aficionados will be sorry to see the Roadster go, even if few of them could afford one. With prices starting at $109,000, the car was never meant for the mass market.

And yet, the Roadster played a unique role in changing the public's attitude toward electric transportation.

Low-slung and high-powered, the Roadster popularized the notion that plug-in cars could be objects of desire. With movie stars and politicians among its buyers - think Gavin Newsom and Brad Pitt - the car quickly became an emblem of eco-chic. It caught the public imagination in a way that previous electric cars, like General Motors' EV1 or Toyota's electric Rav4, never did.

"That was the vehicle that stopped people from thinking electric cars were golf carts," said Felix Kramer, founder of the California Cars Initiative, a plug-in vehicle advocacy group. "It totally transformed the conversation."

The Roadster helped usher in the new wave of electric cars, such as the Nissan Leaf.

The end of Roadster sales will leave Tesla without its most visible product. But the company will continue selling battery packs and chargers to German auto giant Daimler. Tesla also is developing a power train for Toyota's next-generation electric Rav4.

And Musk says Tesla remains on track to start building the Model S next year at the former New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont.

"It's not a concern, because we all knew that there was a limit on the number of the Roadsters that would be produced," said Andrea James, research analyst with the Dougherty & Co. investment bank. "The fact that the company is selling out sooner rather later speaks to demand. The company does very well at creating buzz, and this feeds the buzz."

Monday, May 30, 2011

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Targa Tasmania 2011 - In the Cockpit of a Tesla Roadster [video]



This year's Targa Tasmania had a new category: electric vehicles. The Tesla Roadster showed off its instant torque and thrilling acceleration as it tore through the course.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Tesla Announces Follow-On Offering of Common Stock


Tesla Motors today announced a follow-on offering of 5,300,000 shares of its common stock. All 5,300,000 shares are being offered by the company. In addition, the company has granted the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 795,000 shares of common stock.

Additionally, in a private placement to occur concurrently with the public offering, Elon Musk, Tesla's Chief Executive Officer and Cofounder, plans to purchase 1,500,000 shares of common stock directly from Tesla at the public offering price and Blackstar Investco LLC, an affiliate of Daimler AG, plans to purchase up to approximately 644,475 shares of common stock directly from Tesla at the public offering price.

Tesla Motors intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placement to fund the development of its Model X crossover vehicle.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. is acting as sole book-running manager for the public offering.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Hertz Introduces Tesla Roadster Electric Vehicles Into Fleet


Hertz announced today that it will introduce Tesla Roadsters, the electric supercar, into the Hertz Global EV fleet as part of Hertz Entertainment Services at the Show Biz Expo on Saturday, May 7, 2011. Hertz Entertainment Services will exhibit at the Show Biz Expo in the West Hall, Booth #420, which includes a Tesla ride-and-drive located nearby on Gilbert Lindsay Drive. Hertz will place two Tesla Roadsters in Los Angeles, California that will be available to rent by Entertainment Services customers immediately.

"The Tesla Roadster makes the boldest statement yet that electric vehicles are a breakthrough in car travel: zero emissions combined with cool design and tremendous driving performance," said Mark P. Frissora, Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Hertz is proud to include the Tesla in the most diverse car rental fleet in the world and the Show Biz Expo is the ideal forum to formally introduce the Tesla into our fleet."

Offering up to 295 lbs-ft of torque and 288 horsepower, the Tesla Roadster smoothly can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds without a drop of gasoline. Engineered for efficiency, the zero-emission electric vehicle can drive 245 miles per charge. It plugs into nearly any outlet.

"The Tesla Roadster proves that electric vehicles can offer supercar style, acceleration, and handling with no emissions," said Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and Co-founder. "We are happy that Hertz has chosen Tesla to accentuate its electric rental fleet and let even more people experience the full potential of electric vehicles."

Show Biz Expo is a professional five-star tradeshow and conference that brings all aspects of film/video, television, theatre and event production together under one roof. People attend Show Biz Expo to network with peers and make new contacts; learn about new products & services; attend workshops and film screenings.

Hertz Entertainment Services provides single-source car and equipment rental solutions to the entertainment and special events industries. Hertz Entertainment Services provides customized vehicle and equipment rental solutions to movie, film and television productions, live sports and entertainment events, and all-occasion special events, such as weddings, conventions, and fairs.

Hertz Entertainment Services are tailored to fit the needs of large and small productions alike with competitive pricing and customized, monthly billing. Hertz delivers vehicles and equipment to production locations and a dedicated staff is available 24/7 to address specific client needs. Productions can also rent equipment for use at special events such as lighting, generators and other machinery.

Hertz's experience and willingness to pick up and deliver hybrid and specialized vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius, the BMW Mini Cooper, the Ford Escape Hybrid, and the Lincoln Navigator sets it apart from the competition. The Hertz Prestige Collection is especially popular with actors, while crews benefit from larger vehicles such as minivans, 15 Passenger Vans and SUVs and enjoy having access to a wide array of lighting solutions, generators, lifts and water trucks.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Green Overdrive: Tesla Takes a Cue from Apple Stores [video]



The exec formerly in charge of Apple’s famously successful in-store experience, is paving a new path for electric vehicle company Tesla Motors.

In this week’s episode of Green Overdrive show, Tesla’s VP of Worldwide Sales and Experience, George Blankenship, shows Katie around Tesla’s first experiential store on Santana Row in San Jose, Calif.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Tesla Cleans up Again at the 5th Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally


The Tesla Roadster has reconfirmed its supremacy in the world of the alternative fuel vehicles, beating more than 100 competitors during an exciting Monte Carlo Rally. Driven by former F1 driver Erik Comas, the Artic White Roadster also scored a definitive victory in the Electric Vehicles Cup. The race, which ended Sunday, covered more than 800 km, from Annecy, Valence, and included sprints on the Monaco F1 track.

"Thanks to the incredible efficiency of the Roadster, on Saturday we were able to drive for more than 450 km. There is nothing on the road like it," said Comas. "Next year I will enter 5 Roadsters owned by my company Green Car Challenge into this amazing event."

The rally passed over the Col du Corobin at a height of 1230 meters, following some of the same roads as the historic the Monte Carlo Rally.

The victory comes days after Tesla announced that Roadster owners have travelled over 10 million electric miles (16 million kilometers) around the world.The Tesla Roadster has once again proven to be the only electric car capable of participating in such hard competitions, always traveling at high performance in all conditions.

The car has an EU-certified range of 212 miles or 340 kms on a single charge. In October 2009, the Roadster set a world record when owner Simon Hackett drove the entire 313-mile or 504-km segment of Australia's annual Global Green Challenge on one charge.

The Roadster can be plugged into conventional outlets throughout the world, including 120 and 240volt systems in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. No special equipment is needed for charging: if you have an outlet that charges a cell phone or a hair dryer, you can plug in your Roadster.

About Green Car Challenge

Erik Comas and his company Green Car Challenges have a fleet of five Tesla Roadsters available for rent to those who wish to organize eco-friendly and fun events for their customers and employees. Mixing regularity rallyes on open roads and the discovery of beautiful countryside in Switzerland, France and Germany among other countries, experience incredible driving with this former F1 pilot who now masters this electric supercar like nobody else.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

BBC denies rigging Top Gear Tesla Roadster test


Tesla Motors claims the test set up by Jeremy Clarkson on a 2008 edition of the show was rigged to make it look like the Tesla ran out of power when racing a petrol powered Lotus.

A Top Gear spokesman said the BBC would be "vigorously defending" the claim.

On the programme Jeremy Clarkson claimed: "Although Tesla say it'll do 200 miles, we worked out that on our track it would run out after just 55 miles."

Tesla said the Roadster's miles per charge had been certified at 211 miles by a third party European Union (EU) test.

It argued that because the car was "driven aggressively" on Top Gear the charge didn't last as long, but that if driven "mindfully" charges could last for 313 miles.

A Top Gear spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that we have received notification that Tesla have issued proceedings against the BBC.

"The BBC stands by the programme and will be vigorously defending this claim."

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Tesla sues BBC over "rigged" Top Gear electric car test [video]



Remember that time Top Gear gave the Tesla Roadster such a thrashing it broke, except it really didn't break? Tesla does, and it's now filed suit against the BBC and Top Gear accusing the Beeb of defamation.

The test from the episode aired in December, 2008 involved a race between the Tesla Roadster and the gas-powered Lotus Elise it's based on. The show featured Jeremy Clarkson saying the Tesla ran out of charge at 55 miles, with footage of it being pushed around a garage, ending with Clarkson saying "It's just a shame that in the real world it doesn't seem to work."

Shortly after it aired, Tesla said the Roadster never lost its charge, never needed to be pushed and asked Top Gear for some kind of retraction. After some sparring, the BBC admitted the footage of the push-powered Roadster was meant to show what could happen, saying the show fairly represented how the Tesla performed during tests.

With that episode still playing in repeats, available on DVD and now on Netflix streaming in the United States, Tesla says it was forced to act: "The BBC's conduct has given us no choice but to sue them and clear up their lies."

A BBC spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that we have received notification that Tesla have issued proceedings against the BBC.’


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