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Nine Tesla employees stormed Seattle last weekend on a four-day sales and marketing blitz. The trip was a great success – not only for 80 customers and media who got to drive the car but for those of us at Tesla scouting the perfect location for a Seattle-area store, which we are planning to open in the first half of 2009.
Our popularity in the Pacific Northwest shouldn’t surprise anyone (though it did take us some time to figure it out). Like Silicon Valley where Tesla is headquartered, the Seattle region is full of environmentally conscious early adopters – people who love technology and buy sophisticated electronics years before they’re mainstream commodities. When we parked the Roadster outside of Building 33 on Microsoft’s evergreen-studded campus, hundreds of people crowded around to view it — and we are quite thankful that no one spilled their Starbucks coffee cups on the microfiber seats during their photo ops. When our sales and engineering teams gave a technical presentation and Q&A inside the building, the hour-long event was standing room only.
Washington is also an important customer base because of the state’s progressive legislation aimed at reducing the number of gas-guzzlers on the roads. The state recently passed a new sales tax exemption that encourages local car shoppers to buy hybrids and alternative-fuel vehicles – a waiver that will save state residents at least $18 million in the next two years. We hope other states will follow its lead.
A few details: Although shoppers can buy and make payments on the car now, Washington’s sales tax is waived for customers taking ownership, registration and title of their vehicles between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010. The tax break applies to new cars and trucks that get at least 40 highway mpg.
Mainstream cars such as the Toyota Prius and hybrid Honda Civic are eligible for the exemption, as are lower-volume vehicles such as the all-electric Roadster and “city cars” that aren’t highway-capable. Sales tax rates vary from county to county. In Kings County and Seattle, where customers usually pay 9.3 percent sales tax, Roadster buyers can pocket $10,000 instead of forking it over to the state.
Lots of our customers were talking about the sales tax exemption when they gathered around a closed-course parking lot in Bellevue to drive the car. We set up the course to highlight the car’s acceleration, braking, and handling – and we heard lots of screams and laughs. (One customer whose name we will not publish – let’s just say he works at a major software company in Redmond – failed to brake hard enough and had to reverse the car in order to continue on the set course. Fortunately he didn’t overshoot the cones and end up on Bellevue’s busy Main Street. You know who you are.)
The Roadster we took to Seattle– validation prototype No. 11, which was fitted with the faster and more efficient “powertrain 1.5” – performed all weekend with very little rest or charge time, and absorbed whatever abuse was thrown its way. We were also pleasantly surprised by the weather, which was uncharacteristically warm and sunny the entire weekend. Customers came from as far as Idaho, and we were even able to offer test drives to local journalists, bloggers, members of a local EV owners club, and the Sierra Club. Check out the local buzz:
The Seattle Times:
Driving the Driving the Tesla Roadster: wwwwWWHHHHHIRRRrrrrr by Brier Dudley
Call Me Fishmeal:
Tesla v. Supercharged Lotus Elise by Wil Shipley
Car Domain:
VP 11 by Editor-in-Chief Rob Einaudi
All this bodes well for the future of Tesla in Seattle. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us. The event was such a success, I think we will need to do something similar in cities around the country. Suggestions welcome!
Posted in the categories: Performance, Energy Efficiency, Company, On the road, Public Policy
You would have seen even larger crowds if you had announced your visit in advance here on the blog. I’d have gone out of my way to see a Roadster in person.
Looks great in grey.
If you plan on watching the YouTube video above, turn the volume down on the video until after the scream. Then again, if you’ve read this far it may already be too late.
Warren Buffet has just invested a very large sum of money in a Chinese electric auto venture. What are the implications of this move? Discuss please.
Here are some photos we took at the Seattle test drive event:
www.saxton.org/galleries/0809tesla-drive/
Tom & Cathy Saxton
Why no discussion of the Dodge EV, which is an EV redesign of the Lotus Europa, using support from GE?
I think you should think about coming to the east coast, we are interested in energy savings too, it just isn’t publicized as much. We’re just more realiztic about it. Please come to Charleston,South Carolina. I’d even go to Miami,Florida to see it! thank you.
So with Tesla discovering the Pacific Northwest and opening a store in Seattle, when can I finally order one in Vancouver?
Oh man…
I can’t believe I missed this. Had I known this was going on, I would have been there. Sounds like it was a blast!
Thanks, Zak, for the opportunity to test-drive the Tesla - it’s an amazing vehicle and definitely “blew my socks off”.
I agree with the first comment on the blog about a pre-trip announcement. That was one of the reasons that I subscribe to the newsletter is to be kept up to date on Tesla’s activities. I live in Seattle and would have been there in a minute had Tesla announced its trip here. So sorry I missed it and I hope since the purchasing climate looks good here, that Tesla will plan another visit and this time, one that is announced! Also, maybe a store?!?
Felix:
Address your question to the gov’t; certifications etc. have to be done all over again for Canada.
www.teslamotors.com/display_data.php?data_name=sr_02
You’ve developed a force-field for it too, now? Wow! (I suppose it’s only available for the premium models, though. ;P)
Amazing I would like to check in side
BRAVO
You guys should come to Las Vegas. It would be a dream to be in a Tesla Roadster.
I have total faith in our automobile industry, that they can solve the energy crisis when it comes to transportation for the masses. However, i fail to see how this particular car will help. The average person cannot afford these extreme roadsters. I would like to see a car or truck that the average consumer owns, operate on batteries only, and is affordable to those of us in the annual salary of 65,000 to 90,000, with a mortgage, young children and the everyday bills that go with being a parent. For example, orthodontics, health care, travel to soccer, football, drama, baseball, band competitions as well as others, not to mention the rising cost of food. Is it even possible?
I am confident that someday, someone will build a car similar to what we have but that will cost 15,000 to 25,000. Now that would be worth celebrating. I would like to see the government offer incentives for consuments to buy these types of vehicles. The battery technology should not make these vehicles cost that much. Come on lets be real, somebody is getting wealthy off technology that is not that superior to others like atom splitting.
Please lets be sensible, focus on the average taxpaying citizen and consumer. We need your help with transportation costs.
Signed, Worried
I have been reading this blog since virtually it’s beginning. I have suggested, recently, that it should be a bit more than the equivalent of an alternative space for press releases.
Why did you not announce to the people on your blog your Seattle event ahead of time? I live here. I would have come. I would have told my friends about it. But, you know, I didn’t know about it. By the looks of your pictures, you didn’t really get that many people. I could have probably added 50%.
It’s really odd to me. And I’m a potential buyer.
I’m glad you came to Seattle. I’m sorry you kept the information from your blog readers.
I am waiting for the new 5 passenger, that said, I really wish notice was given of the event. Only a mile away, very sorry I missed it.
Everyone that missed this should check out Tesla Motors Club - we were talking about this for a while before it happened and a few memebers went down to the event.
Looks like it was a big success, hopefully there will be many more.
Re: Worried Mike
Mike, with all due respects you really need to go back and read ALL the postings and blogs on this site (several years worth). As Baldrick in Black Adder migght say, Tesla has a “cunning plan” that most of us who have followed their progress believe will work.
I suggest you do some extensive reading of this site’s archives.
Peter J Hedge
Victoria, BC
Re: contact issue logic: I suppose if they’d put out a pre-release, the event would have been utterly swamped by crowds, and they wouldn’t have had enough room to safely tool around in the KMart’s parking lot.
Also, this approach would give you a better man-on-the-street reaction; without foreknowledge of the car, people might be more unbiased in their initial reactions. If there had been a wide send-out, hundreds, if not thousands, of die-hard Tesla fans would have shown up, and the event would’ve been preaching to the choir, so to speak.
That’s just my speculation, anyway. I may not agree with it - if there’s a Tesla coming to town, I want to know! - but I can see the PR logic behind it.
Has anyone actually received delivery of a car yet. How many are now on the street?
Brian H.:
Why actually? I’ve imported a car into Canada, and it’s not that much of a hassle if it’s manufactured for the north american market in the first place. It’s when you want one from Japan or Europe that things get strange. At the very least it would be nice if I could order one in the states without an address there and then bring it over the border myself or something.
Amazing
so how many are now on the streets?
I wasn’t too long ago that people criticized electric cars because they were slow, weird looking things that were little more than glorified golf carts.
Now, people are complaining that they are too high performance and made only for rich people. Finally, someone has made electric cars desirable! This is tremendous progress! We have come a long way.
Thanks, Tesla!
I don’t know how I missed this!! I’ve been telling people all over Bothell and Everett WA about Tesla motors for over a year now. I would have loved to have been there! I’m sick of seeing hyped up commercials for vehicles that get 24-30mpg…we’ve been getting that for 10 years, it’s nothing new!! Please Tesla, please, hurry with the sedan and then make a coupe! =)
RE: #
Michael Burke wrote on October 6th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Has anyone actually received delivery of a car yet. How many are now on the street?
another wesite said that over 30 cars are delivered so far.
not very many but enough to show production has started. Remember that Carol Shelby produced hundreds of AC Cobras from his garage, in the 60’s. Oh for the good old days.
There are other styles that I would prefer such as a family car,or SUV but I’m not waiting. Watch the movie “Who killed the electric car” and then guess when the next production $30k electric car that you can actually purchase comes along. I can’t wait to get this car.
Visiting the Menlo Park showroom this weekend was an eye opener. Seeing 27 roadsters waiting for motors, gearboxes, PEMs and batteries was a sight to behold for a real fan. What about doing a video, time lapsed, showing the way the four components are installed in a “Glider?” It would be a wonderful thing to see and a way to show the beauty of simplicity that battery electric vehicles (BEV) truly are. The roadster is truly a revolution in design and construction. Show us that beauty.
Bob
I think Tesla has accomplished a real electric car for the world that owners would be proud to show and enjoy. Least theres no Gas Guzzler Tax associated with this vehicle. My Project Plan is The Electric Vehicle Free Conversion Foundation (EVFCF). I believe in a fair opportunity if theres a need being served, but the weight of that Li-Ion battery is to much, it might be those steel cans with each cell and thats 6,831 weighty steel cans. Just how much does that weigh not the battery total of 992 lbs.. I see the vehicle total weight as Curb weight (lbs/kgs): 2723/1238 but how much could be saved by not using the 6,831 steel cans? What I am getting at… Have you seen the article, [Future Planes, Cars May Be Made of Buckypaper; Friday, October 17, 2008 12:29 PM; www.newsmax.com/science/tec_buckypaper/2008/10/17/141478.html]? Why only one - 375 volt AC induction air-cooled electric motor with variable frequency drive, at the rear-end SEE >>> BluWav Systems LLC has two in their unit and they have electric motors in the wheel hubs so anyone could make a four wheel drive vehicle or a Hybrid leaving the ICE installed and adding battery power? Help me in Solving Problems For Transportation. Your at the petal don’t use the metal. Make a new battery and don’t use that heavy battery your planning to use, honestly.
You now need a motor scooter to help avoid the Chinese and Japanese imports into America and to be the lowest priced electric motor scooter business in America which would of coarse bear the name TESLA MOTORS. I think you should have brought those vehicles to Alabama but you have no business option for job opportunity here either. Here we have two motorcycle shops, one Chinese motor scooter costs $1,995.00 and the other sales lot sales them at $1,795.00 so you really have to do better than that to compete against that, plus have a longer driving range per charge cycle.
I feel OK, Checkout Logans Roadhouse sometime, and our K-Mart is open again earlier by one day up till 5PM last night.
Bad News First: MICROSOFT KILLED VISTA
See New York Times Article Here
Also: Yahoo discontinues Vista-optimized IM program for Yahoo Messenger for Vista. To tell the truth I never saw that app.
Now the Good News To Hear:
Just thinking right about 2010, how’s Tesla going to work out up to then? I just saw all three of the new Envi Electric Vehicles (1) Jeep, (2) van (3) Mustang. Learn More About The New Chrysler Fuel-less Vehicles Today. Expect near 2010.
Download (PDF Format) Specifications: Dodge ev and Chrysler ev
Felix;
any cars you’ve imported have already gone thru the process. The whole area of BEV regulation in Canada is still up in the air. The approval is issued to the mfrs, not to individual buyers.
When are you going to come out with a 4 or 5 seater family car?? There is a lot of testosterone in the roadster; and it is a man’s dream; what about the rest of the population - you’ll have a larger sample population/consumer base.
Regards,
Nelson
Почитала очень много интересных мнений. Многих поддерживаю
Lower prices sell cars…