Tesla

MARK RECHTIN

A flaw in Tesla's plan: It's Chargie McVanish

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 8, 2013
Driving range and recharging time have been significant hurdles for electric vehicles to gain mainstream acceptance. Tesla Motors is addressing the problem with stations for Tesla owners only that can recharge 150 miles of range in half an hour. But Tesla overlooked the annoying human factor Mark Rechtin is West Coast editor for Automotive News.... Read More »

 

For Tesla's EVs, credits turn into dollars

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 8, 2013
Based on Tesla's fuel economy during the 2010 and 2011 model years, the company earned 49,772 EPA credits. The company says it is selling those credits to other automakers.... Read More »

 

Tesla CEO opens fire on Texas dealers

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 8, 2013
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is firing all barrels against dealers in Texas in a franchise-law battle over whether the electric-car maker can sell its cars directly to the public.... Read More »

 

8 states in Tesla's growth plan

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 8, 2013
Tesla Motors aims to add stores and service centers in at least eight more states: Minnesota, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Missouri, Nevada, Georgia, Hawaii and Virginia.... Read More »

 

NEWS ANALYSIS

How affordable is Tesla's Model S?

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 8, 2013
Tesla Motors did its best last week to cast its Model S electric sedan, which starts at $71,070, including shipping and fees, as affordable. But some of its logic is, well, elusive.... Read More »

 

Tesla's Musk calls e-mail sent by sales staff 'overzealous'

6:57 am U.S. ET | April 5, 2013
Elon Musk, the billionaire who leads Tesla Motors, called an e-mail sent by his sales staff last month “overzealous” and said the wording wasn't approved by the electric-car maker.... Read More »

 

Q&A: Musk talks about Tesla's financing plan, company's future

9:18 am U.S. ET | April 3, 2013
On Tuesday, Tesla Motors announced a guaranteed-residual-value financing plan starting at $1,051 a month for the base 60 kWh Model S electric sedan. While paying off the 63-month loan, consumers can trade in the car after 36 months for a guaranteed price. After the announcement, Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk spoke with Automotive News West Coast Editor Mark Rechtin about the plan, as well as other Tesla topics.... Read More »

 

Tesla offering special financing plan for Model S sedan

5:18 pm U.S. ET | April 2, 2013
Tesla Motors has joined forces with USBank and Wells Fargo Bank to create vehicle financing and leasing products that allow consumers to lease a Model S electric sedan for a net payment of about $500 a month after a 10 percent down payment and calculated savings. CEO Elon Musk said he would personally guarantee the value of the cars.... Read More »

 

Tesla says it turned profitable as Model S sales beat forecast

7:27 am U.S. ET | April 1, 2013
Tesla Motors, the electric carmaker headed by billionaire Elon Musk, said it turned profitable in the first quarter, citing higher-than-expected sales of its Model S sedan.... Read More »

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Tesla's retail model: Let market decide

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 1, 2013
Since Tesla is not competing with its own dealers, why not let the market decide?... Read More »

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

What Tesla does differently

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 1, 2013
It will be a surprise to me if the only really successful EV turns out to be a car built by a noncar guy and not named after himself.... Read More »

 

Tesla takes on Texas in latest franchise law battle

3:45 pm U.S. ET | March 29, 2013
In its latest battle with state dealer associations, electric vehicle maker Tesla Motors is trying to change existing franchise laws in Texas. Tesla is behind bills introduced earlier this month in the Texas Legislature that seek an exemption to current restrictions on factory-owned dealerships for electric vehicle makers that have never used independent franchised dealers. It is Tesla's most direct challenge to franchise laws already on the books.... Read More »

 

HARDBALL

Tesla plays hardball

12:01 am U.S. ET | March 18, 2013
As dealers in some states try to tighten franchise laws to block factory-owned dealerships, Tesla is aggressively lobbying policymakers, reaching out to fans to foster public support and even countering with its own franchise law proposals.... Read More »

 

Norway shows the way with EVs, but at what cost?

March 16, 2013 06:01 CET
Norway's market for pure electric cars has in its very success shown the severe drawbacks to a model that relies on public subsidies worth as much as $8,200 per car, every year. Carmakers such as Nissan, Mitsubishi, PSA and Tesla Motors see Norway and its 10,000 battery-powered vehicles as a reason for optimism in otherwise gloomy terrain.... Read More »

 

Minn. dealers back bid to block Tesla-owned stores

12:01 am U.S. ET | March 11, 2013
Tesla Motors' plan to sell cars in Minnesota is in jeopardy because of legislation urged by the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association.... Read More »

 

Musk extends Times feud, calls Model S review 'ethics violation'

12:01 am U.S. ET | March 10, 2013
Tesla CEO Elon Musk took another swipe at The New York Times on Saturday, calling the newspaper's critical review of his Tesla Model S electric car a "low-grade ethics violation."... Read More »

 

Tesla's Musk thanks Minn. legislators for stalling franchise law rewrite

4:09 pm U.S. ET | March 8, 2013
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is thanking Minnesota lawmakers who blocked legislation that would prevent the electric vehicle maker from opening stores in that state. But the legislative tussle is far from over.... Read More »

 

Tesla opposes Minnesota legislation that would block its stores

4:04 pm U.S. ET | March 6, 2013
Tesla Motors is trying to amend Minnesota legislation that would block it from opening stores and service centers in the state.... Read More »

 

Tesla libel suit over BBC's 'Top Gear' dismissed by U.K. appeals court

10:48 am U.S. ET | March 5, 2013
An appeals court in the United Kingdom dismissed a libel lawsuit from Tesla Motors, a maker of electric vehicles led by billionaire Elon Musk, against the BBC show "Top Gear."... Read More »

 

Tesla delays filing annual report on accounting error

11:38 am U.S. ET | March 4, 2013
Tesla Motors said it’s delaying the company’s annual report after finding an error related to accounting for capital expenditures.... Read More »

 

MARK RECHTIN

Is Tesla's fight with The New York Times over?

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 27, 2013
Tesla Motors' CEO Elon Musk has been at war with The New York Times regarding a recent negative review that he claimed was rigged to make the Model S sedan fail.... Read More »

 

Tesla will accelerate repayment of U.S. loan, Musk says

4:24 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 26, 2013
Tesla Motors plans to repay its $465 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy twice as quickly as planned, CEO Elon Musk said today.... Read More »

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

My Fisker does fine in cold weather

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 25, 2013
Regarding "The cold facts about Tesla," autonews.com, Feb. 12: I own a Fisker and have never had a problem with the car, even in cold weather.... Read More »

 

Tesla stores spark PR blitz praising franchise system

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 25, 2013
Energized by the prospect of Tesla Motors Inc.'s factory-owned stores, state auto dealer-association chiefs plan to tout the benefits of the dealership franchise system to the media, lawmakers and the public this year.... Read More »

 

FINAL ASSEMBLY

The Times vs. Tesla: A no-decision bout

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 25, 2013
So was Tesla wronged by that New York Times review of the Model S that detailed how the electric car ran out of juice in the middle of a test drive?... Read More »