The Model S was recently rolled-out in China at the same time that the company continues to expand its presence in Europe. Additionally, the company has two new models in the pipeline and 2-3 “Gigafactories” to start building in order to produce the batteries needed to ramp-up production for the automaker.
E L James, the author of “Fifty Shades of Grey” was among four others whom received their keys from Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk personally at an event this weekend at London’s The Crystal.
Tesla Model S four month waiting list
Musk told reporters that pre-orders are exceeding the company’s expectations and that future Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) owners in the UK face a four-month wait at present. The Model S is only as good as the charging stations available to their owners and this weekend also saw Musk unveil the first of many Supercharger stations the company is working on completing.
Musk stated again that use of the Supercharger stations is free to its customers as it just doesn’t cost Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) that much and that understanding is included in the list price of the vehicle.
Musk anticipates multiple Supercharger stations throughout London and told those in attendance at the event that neighborhoods were actually paying Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) in order to see Superchargers in, for example, Kensington. In addition to Supercharges in the Capital proper, outlying areas and motorways (highways) will see a number of stations to build to the anticipated network that promises to be vast.
Despite the millions that E L James made for his multiple shades of grey, the author chose a red Model S. With the £5,000 ($8,400) government grant towards going electric, the Tesla remains competitive in its pricing though the price after the subsidy remains above the pricing in the States.
Further UK operations
If Autocar is to be trusted, Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) also plans to build a UK-based research and development facility “across the pond” though it remains unlikely that the automaker will build a final assembly plant in the UK as it already has one in the Netherlands.
“It seems a sensible thing to do considering the talents in British engineering,” Musk told Autocar in reference to the R&D facility, adding that the “best people” will want to join the company.
That R&D facility is “probable” and will likely be based in the UK’s Midlands creating hundreds of jobs.
