First Tesla store opens in Santa Monica, now we just need some cars

Posted May 2nd 2008 1:53PM by Sam Abuelsamid
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors

Click the Roadster for a high-res gallery from the Tesla store opening.

The very first Tesla Motors retail outlet had its grand opening party last night in Santa Monica, CA. We're still waiting for some first hand accounts from the event so if anyone was there and has pics please feel free to share your thoughts. A second outlet is currently being prepared closer to home base in Silicon Valley although we're not sure when that one is opening. During a chat with Tesla Marketing VP Darryl Siry earlier this week, he indicated that production car #3 is now ready for delivery and should be in someone's hands shortly. Car number 4 is the unit that has been shown around Europe this week in Monaco and elsewhere. The first car, of course, went to Chairman and chief fundraiser Elon Musk. That leaves #2, the car destined for ousted company co-founder Martin Eberhard. Martin's car is apparently taking a little longer due to a custom paint job but it should soon be ready as well.

Update: We now have images from the store opening in the gallery. Among the famous folk in attendance were Quincy Jones, Jenny McCarthy and Jenna Elfman.

Gallery: Tesla Motors Santa Monica store opening

Tags: santa monica, SantaMonica, tesla motors, Tesla motors store, tesla store, tesla-motors, TeslaMotors, TeslaMotorsStore, TeslaStore

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Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. Wow, four cars, I sure hope they plan on ramping up production. My brother in law has a deposit on one. I am sure he is a little further down the list. I can't wait to go for a ride when he get his, or maybe drive it?

Posted at 2:18PM on May 2nd 2008 by rar

2. Th!nk City will blow them away in terms of numbers of electric cars sold.

Posted at 2:32PM on May 2nd 2008 by phil easler

3. Come on.... $35K+ (!?!?!) for a ThinkCity (which is over 2ft shorter than a $11,500 Yaris 3dr) vs $100K for a Tesla??? Who's kidding whom?

Posted at 4:26PM on May 2nd 2008 by steven

4. I somehow doubt that the market for the ThinkCity in any way overlaps the Tesla Roadster. People who want performance will get the Tesla and people who want something slug-like will get the Think.

Think has a top speed of roughly 60mph and a range of approximately 105 miles. This means it's considerably less practical in everyday use than the Tesla (although it's probably better for grocery shopping trips).

As far as the opening party is concerned, I'm a little confused - the objects in the pictures closely resemble cars, but I thought all the cars presently produced were in transit.

Are they some of the pre-production models?

D

Posted at 6:02PM on May 2nd 2008 by David H Dennis

5. what is the point of having a dealership if all the cars for the years production are nabbed up already

Posted at 10:52PM on May 2nd 2008 by Kevin Nugent

6. David H Dennis: The cars on display could be some of the validation prototypes, just like the production models but used for testing and demonstrations and test drives only.

Nugent: The purpose of the facilities is both to display the car for future customers, and to provide service facilities for existing customers once their cars arrive. It's a good idea to have the services available before the cars get here!

Posted at 3:30AM on May 3rd 2008 by Chris M

7. I thought the Tesla showroom was just East of the 405. Wouldn't that be Santa Monica adjacent?

Posted at 4:13PM on May 3rd 2008 by PJD

8. The store's not in Santa Monica; it's in Los Angeles. The address is on Santa Monica Blvd., however.

Posted at 3:03PM on May 4th 2008 by greenlagirl

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