Tesla is gearing up to make enormous changes to its stores for the Model 3, its first mass-market car. The EV firm is already speeding up the development at its Gigafactory, sharpening its manufacturing practices and purchasing SolarCity to give a much-needed boost to Model 3 production. In addition, the electric car maker is considering design changes for its showrooms, according to Business Insider.
Making room for other products
“We’re throwing preconceived notions of auto sales out the window and starting from the ground up,” Tesla’s vice president of North American sales, Ganesh Srivats, told Fast Company. The Tesla Model 3 is set to be released in late 2017.
Unlike other car companies, Tesla avoids offering its cars through dealership systems. Instead, the company prefers the direct-to-consumer sales approach — offering its vehicles both online and at its own retail stores.
In a few states, for example, Texas and Arizona, where direct sales are banned, the EV firm has been forced to display its products in its galleries instead of showcasing them in stores. Interested buyers can have a word directly with product specialists about the car and, in some of the galleries, also take a test drive, although they cannot discuss purchases at any of the galleries in states where direct sales are banned.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk believes the Model 3 will increase traffic in its stores, helping them sell other Tesla products too. In June, Musk said they will include SolarCity’s offerings, like solar panels, in its stores.
Wireless charger for Tesla Model S
In other Tesla news, on Thursday, Plugless released a video to demonstrate how comfortable it is to charge a Tesla without a cord. The aftermarket wireless charging company finally has a product to showboff as it started taking deposits for its planned charger in February, reports Mashable.
Built to withstand temperatures of 0 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, Plugless’ charger is perfect for customers living in urban communities with compelling climates. According to Plugless’ website, the Model S should be parked over the charger to be charged. It will get about a 7.2 kiloWatt charge, similar to around 20 miles of range per hour of charging.
Presently, the Plugless charger supports only rear-wheel drive Model S cars. The all-wheel drive model compatibility is in the works. Plugless chargers for the Model 3, Model X and Tesla Roadster are not yet available.
On Thursday, Tesla shares closed up 0.12% at $223.51. Year to date, the stock is down more than 6%, while in the last year, it is down more than 8%.
