Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) is expanding its retail network to new locations in Bellevue, WA, Chicago, IL, and Newport Beach, CA, in November, laying the groundwork for Model S, the world’s first electric premium sedan, to start customer deliveries next year.
This weekend, Nov. 5, Tesla Bellevue Square opens at the high end shopping center in Bellevue, WA. The store will open with a display of a Model S Beta prototype and Model S drivetrain components, highlighting Tesla’s advanced electric powertrain and battery architecture.
In addition to Tesla Bellevue Square, Tesla will open in Chicago’s OakbrookCenter on Nov. 12, and at Newport Beach, California’s Fashion Island on Nov. 18. The locations reinforce Tesla’s existing presence in markets where service centers are already open for business.
Tesla stores are designed to demonstrate the benefits of driving electric and Tesla’s advanced technology. The Tesla locations include hands-on exhibits, interactive touch-screen experiences, and a design center where customers can customize their own Model S.
“Tesla is reinventing the way people buy cars, with stores designed to engage and inform prospective customers," said Tesla CEO and Co-founder Elon Musk. "Located in high foot-traffic locations, Tesla stores are designed to introduce people to Tesla’s advanced electric car technology and show the benefits of driving electric. Tesla stores lay the groundwork for the distribution of Model S today and increasingly affordable electric vehicles tomorrow.”
Model Sseats five adults and two children. It comes with three battery pack options, 160, 230 or 300 mile range. It can be recharged using any conventional outlet and is capable of a fast charge of 45 minutes. With no internal combustion engine or transmission tunnel, the interior of the car has class-leading cargo space, including a trunk under the hood. The centerpiece of the interior is a 17-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity for streaming radio, web browsing and navigation.
With more than 6,000 reservations for Model S, Tesla is committed to delivering superior service to every owner no matter where they are located. In addition to Tesla service locations in regions most convenient for its current and rapidly-expanding customer base, Tesla Rangers supplement service hubs in major cities, travelling to customers’ homes and offices to perform annual inspections, firmware upgrades and other services.
