Tesla says new electric powertrain deal with Daimler will exceed in value sum of all its prior powertrain agreements

In its letter to shareholders reporting Q1 2012 results, Tesla Motors Chairman, Product Architect and CEO Elon Musk and Deepak Ahuja, Chief Financial Officer, said that the company had recently signed an agreement with Daimler to create an entire electric powertrain for a new Mercedes-Benz EV, formalizing a joint effort kicked off in Q4 last year. (Earlier post.)

This program is expected to exceed in value the sum of all powertrain agreements signed in Tesla history. [Approximately $280 million, according to Tesla.] Producing at this expected volume will allow for economies of scale that give the resulting vehicle a cost of ownership that is on par with its gasoline equivalent.

—Letter to Shareholders

This will be Tesla’s third deal with Daimler, following component supplies for smart cars and A-Class hatches.
Other highlights of the quarterly report included:

• Losses widened to $89.9 million as sales of the Roadster wind down and prior to the release of the Model S.
• The first Model S customer cars will be available in June, ahead of the announced July target; Tesla is maintaining its target of 5,000 vehicle deliveries by year end.
• Tesla raised the bottom-end of its prior 2012 revenue guidance by $10 million, to $560-600 million, up from $550-600 million.

Automakers Unveil Universal Fast Charger

 

There has been a lot of debate over the fast-charging standards of future electric vehicles. While Tesla has been busy perfecting its own “supercharger”, the world’s leading automakers, among them GM, VW, and Ford, have come out with a universal fast charger for future plug-in automobiles.

This united, single charger will mean that makers of EV charging stations will have a single template to follow. The Society of Automotive Engineers has been working with automakers to help develop a single standard, rather than allowing each automaker to develop their own system.

This universal charger is said to be a Level 3 charger that can rapidly charge EV’s in as little as 15-20 minutes. Not quite the 5-minute fillup of current petrol cars, but this rapid charger could help speed acceptance of electric vehicles among the car-buying public.

All three American automakers are on-board with this new system, as is Audi, BMW, Porsche, VW, and Daimler (parent company of Mercedes). Interestingly enough, these are all European and American automakers, even though Japanese car companies are producing far more electric and plug-in vehicles.

Were the Japenese companies frozen out? Did they simply choose not to participate? Or are Japan’s automakers developing their own charging system? This one has me scratching my head, that’s for sure.

Source: gas2.0

Model X will have excellent towing capability. Despite photo, Model S will not offer option

A reader with sharp eyes and quicker reflexes sent us a pic of a Tesla Model S they had spotted on the streets of San Francisco sporting a trailer hitch receiver and a pair of portals of some type around back, which had us scratching our heads.

The Roadster, of course, doesn't come with a towing option (though the company's CTO JB Straubel does have a hitch on his) and the Model S wasn't slated to offer the option as far as we knew. So, we contacted the California automaker to ask what's up.

In a brief response, a spokesperson said "Tesla's engineering vehicles are constantly undergoing internal testing in a wide variety of circumstances to fine tune and validate performance, safety and durability" and confirmed that there will be no factory towing option. Of course, the Nissan Leaf didn't offer that function either but the aftermarket has stepped in with a solution.

So, if you want an all-electric that will pull your boat over to the bay, what are your options? A Leaf might not have the wherewithal for that sort of heavy-duty application, but there is something coming that will. The Tesla Model X (inset). According to the same spokesperson, "Model X will have towing capability exceeding most SUVs in its class. With all-wheel drive, incredible torque and sophisticated traction control, it will be an excellent towing machine."



Source: Autoblog Green

Tesla Model X (2014)

CAR GARAGE | Tesla Model X (2014) | The 2014 Tesla Model X naturally mimics the Model S with a structural "skeleton" comprising cast, stamped, and extruded members that are bonded, welded, and / or riveted.  Also echoing the Model S, the 2014 Tesla Model X uses a longitudinally mounted battery pack Beneath the cabin floor as a structural component. Rear-drive models carry a single electric drive motor below the cargo floor, along with associated electronics and a single-speed reduction gearbox.  We'll be interested to see whether the Model X matches the Model S sedan's claimed 50/50 front / rear weight distribution road ability as another plus. Unlike the Inaugural 2-seat Roadster, the which relied on components and production help from Britain's Lotus Cars, the Model X, like its sister sedan, is built almost entirely by Tesla Itself.

The 2014 Tesla Model X is a premium-midsize SUV derived from the automaker's all-electric Model S premium-midsize hatchback sedan. As expected, the 2014 Tesla Model X shares a basic design all-aluminum platform with the Model S sedan and, says Britain's Autocar magazine, uses about 60 percent of the same structural elements.  Also like its sister sedan, the 2014 Tesla Model X was shaped under the direction of company design chief Franz von Holzhausen (formerly of Mazda and General Motors). As expected, the 2014 Tesla Model X shares a basic design all-aluminum platform with the Model S sedan and, says Britain's Autocar magazine, uses about 60 percent of the same structural elements.  Also like its sister sedan, the 2014 Tesla Model X was shaped under the direction of company design chief Franz von Holzhausen (formerly of Mazda and General Motors).

The 2014 Tesla Model X naturally mimics the Model S with a structural "skeleton" comprising cast, stamped, and extruded members that are bonded, welded, and / or riveted. Also echoing the Model S, the 2014 Tesla Model X uses a longitudinally mounted battery pack Beneath the cabin floor as a structural component. Rear-drive models carry a single electric drive motor below the cargo floor, along with associated electronics and a single-speed reduction gearbox.

We'll be interested to see whether the Model X matches the Model S sedan's claimed 50/50 front / rear weight distribution road ability as another plus. As in the Model S, the main drive motor for the 2014 Tesla Model X is a three-phase AC-induction unit with a reported 362 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque.  We have not seen an official Curb weight for the 2014 Tesla Model X, but Reynolds says Tesla founder Elon Musk Believes That electric vehicles are vital to a sustainable motoring future and is determined Tesla That lead the charge. 

 

By design, the Model S / X model architecture is a scalable platform can host a variety That of different vehicles, Thus Spake saving billions in new-model development and production costs. The 2014 Tesla Model X is a premium-midsize SUV derived from the automaker's all-electric Model S premium-midsize hatchback sedan.

Tesla Model S 'almost ready'

Tesla Motors is close to rolling out the first Model S battery-electric five-doors from the company's Fremont, CA, plant, and customers who reserved the Model S Signature Series are already sending in their specification requests, indicating that the company will likely hit its July deadline for first deliveries.

Tesla has also added three colors – Piano Black, Lacewood and Banana Leaf – to its interior options and Internet connectivity will be an option on all cars, the company said in a letter to its prospective customers that was posted on its blog last week. Tesla also said it would personally deliver the cars to the location of the customer's choice.

The Model S, the second model from Tesla after the Roadster, will be priced starting at $57,400 for a version with a 160-mile single-charge range before the $7,500 tax credit goes into effect. A 300-mile-range version goes for about $77,000. Read here for Autoblog's "First Ride" impressions.

Earlier this year, Tesla said 2012 sales may triple last year's revenue of $204.2 million and forecast Model S sales at 5,000 units for this year. That's more than double the 2,100 of the $109,000 Roadsters that Tesla sold over the past four years.



Source: Autoblog Green

Tesla Model S (2012)

CAR GARAGE | 2012 Tesla Model S | The Model S is a four-door sedan That the California electric car maker Tesla plans to build beginning in 2011, presumably as a 2012 model, and says That it will be the  first mass-produced electric vehicle. The Car Connection.com editors have seen the Tesla Model S prototype firsthand and have distilled available information into this Bottom Line review; The Car Connection.com will give you the latest info about the 2012 production version of the Model S as it Becomes available.

The interior looks to be an elegant, airy affair with high-quality leather and soft-touch surfaces, again matching the best luxury competition. A comprehensive voice recognition system will hopefully allay these concerns. Tesla Model S the bills as a seven-passenger vehicle. The rear-mounted power train is eerily silent, and should add to the vehicle's stealth and luxury. A one-speed drive train seems a odd, but adds lightness, reduces complexity and still manages a 130-mph top speed.

The sedan boasts a 45/55-percent front / rear weight distribution and tips the scales at just over 4.000 pounds, Respectable given its size, technology, and performance. A drive train and battery pack mounted low in the vehicle yields a low center of gravity for Tenacious handling. With the top-option battery pack, Tesla Motors promises a 300-mile range. The standard battery pack Gives miles of driving just 160, the second-tier pack 230 miles. The company plans to rent the 300-mile pack to Those who Their only occasionally use vehicles for longer Journeys; alternately, owners can purchase upgraded battery packs later if Their driving needs change.

To fast-charge a Tesla Model S, buyers can purchase extra equipment from the dealer and enjoy just 45 minutes from empty to fully charged. The company claims That the cost and environmental impact of charging is hugely below That of one tank of gasoline. Promised is a three-or four-year total-vehicle warranty, bumper-to-bumper. Estimated price: $ 49.900 $ 7.500 after a Federal tax credit. But CEO Elon Musk That stresses operating costs-especially for Those who lease a Model S-make the actual cost of this vehicle no more than $ 35,000 That of a 2010 Ford Taurus.

Study: Lithium-Ion Battery Prices To Drop ⅓ By 2017

With battery technology and prices lagging behind the market, electric vehicles have not quite taken off in the big way some automakers hoped. But battery prices are falling, though perhaps not as quick as some automakers and EV enthusiasts might hope. A new study by Pike Research finds that by 2017, the cost of a lithium-ion battery pack could drop by as much as ⅓.

With many battery packs ranging in price from $7,000 to $10,000 (or more!), a 33% drop in price would be a boon to EV buyers. But it would still leave battery-powered cars with a price premium over conventional cars. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Americans tend to want what the wealthiest of us have, and green vehicles, especially EV’s, have become popular with the rich and famous.

Pike Research predicts that by 2017, the $2 billion-a-year market for lithium-ion batteries will have exploded to over $14 billion as electric vehicles gain popularity and battery prices fall thanks to new research and breakthroughs in cost reduction. By 2017, Pike predicts that the cost of an installed battery will be about $523 per kWh. Depending on the automaker, price per kWh varies. Tesla Motors charges about $36,000 to replace its 53 kWh battery pack, which brings the cost to about $679 per kWh. If Pike’s study is to be believed. the price of the Tesla pack should drop by almost $10,000, to around $27,000, by 2017.

However, Pike also predicted that battery prices would drop to just $470 per kWh by 2015, so this is obviously a less-rosy picture of lithium-ion batteries…though perhaps a little more realistic. But it also means that we are still years away from the magical $200 per kWh price that many analysts (including Tesla CEO Elon Musk) see as the “breaking” point in EV vs. conventional car prices. At the rate of battery prices that Pike is presenting, it could take until 2025.

2017 is only 5 years away…but will the passion for electric vehicles still be here half a decade from now?

Source: Green Car Congress

Tesla CEO Look to the Day When EV Batteries Cost $200 per kWh

Anyone who knows EV’s knows that the highest cost of doing business comes from the expensive battery technology that, I think it is fair to say, has not matured. It’s a lot like the first cell phones or tablets; pricey at first, but more and more affordable as time goes on. During a stockholder meeting, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk says that he believes the cost of EV batteries will drop below $200 a kWh in the “not-too-distant future.”

What does that mean? Any number of things. Tesla has unveiled two new models in the past year, the Model S sedan and Model X crossover, and both already have substantial pre-orders. So much so, in fact, that Tesla is not loaning cars to auto journalists prior to it going on sale, breaking a much hallowed tradition as sucking up to the people who review your billion-dollar products.

While so far Tesla has focused on high-end luxury electric vehicles, they are also working on a cheaper EV for the masses. When asked about the $200 kWh battery price tag that will supposedly help make EV’s cheaper and more competitive on the open market, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he sees the price dipping below that point on the “not-too-distant future.”

Tesla has been quoted as saying the Energy Storage System, or ESS, on the $109,000 Roadster costs around $36,000 to replace. At 53 kWh, that puts the battery cost per kWh at $679. If the price per battery were $200 per kWh, that would shave off over $25,000.

Tesla is planning to unveil a cheaper, mass market EV in the next few years, perhaps as soon as 2015. But will that be enough to bring more people over to the EV market? These days it all comes down to money…but who knows where the world economy will be in four years? If a Republican gets elected, is he going to pull the plug on electric vehicle incentives and research loans?

Scary thoughts, but Tesla is committed at this point, and I think think Musk is all-in with this venture.


Source: Gas2.0

Tesla Roadster vs. Porsche 911 Carrera – Electric Car Win (Video)

These Electric Vehicles lay the smack down:

Tesla Takes 500 Model X Reservations In First Four Days

Few companies go ten years without turning a profit, and manage to stay alive. Tesla Motors has though, and it seems like CEO Elon Musk’s predictions that the company will turn a profit next year might actually come true. Hot on the heels of the Tesla Model S release, Musk and crew unveiled the Tesla Model X crossover.

And just as I predicted, the soccer mom’s flocked to the falcon-wing doors and seven-passenger seating. Tesla says that between the unveiling last Thursday and Valentines Day this past Tuesday, they took 500 reservations worth a cool $40 million.

This is serious cash we’re talking about too; at least $5,000 for a standard Model X, and up to $40,000 to reserve one of the few Signature models that will likely be the first ones to roll off the assembly line. All this for a car that nobody outside of a few employees and reporters have even seen in person. Then again, the Tesla Model S also got over 500 reservations in its first week, but something tells me the Model X crossover will be Tesla’s bread-and-butter.

And that wasn’t the only good news this week, as Tesla announced another deal with Daimler, parent company of Mercedes. Tesla will provide the old-school Mercedes brand with a new-school electric powertrain for an upcoming luxury roadster. Details are scant, but the deal is sure to put a lot more money in Tesla’s pockets.

Things are looking up for Tesla; the company expects to deliver its first Model S sedan this summer, and 5,000 of them by the end of the year. There are just 330 Tesla Roadsters left, and they expect to sell the last of them by the end of the year, mostly in Europe and Asia.

2014 is a long was away though, and I’m not sure the Model X will survive in its current form. People are fickle, especially rich people. Will the falcon-wing doors survive?

Source: Gas2.0

Still More on the Tesla Model X

There are days I wake up and think to myself “Curse you Elon Musk for making the world’s coolest electric car that nobody can afford!” I have a love-hate relationship with Tesla Motors, you see. I love how their electric cars are oriented towards luxury and performance, which is a far cry from how most EV manufacturers marketed their cars (Save the trees with EVs!)But I’m not going to own one anytime soon. I’m also probably not going to ever be able to afford a $50,000 Tesla Model S, or their just-revealed Model X crossover. As Mitt Romney would say, I’m just envious. But who doesn’t feel a pang of envy when we see a nicer car, or a bigger house, or a fatter wallet? That was why I waited a few days before waxing poetic on the Tesla Model X; do I hate it because I am just jealous, or is it because Tesla has built a car that it knows will sell well, but is aimed squarely at the soccer moms of America?The thing is, as much as I hate the fact that Tesla got government money to produce luxury cars for the nation’s wealthiest citizens, I also believe Tesla is probably the best hope electric vehicle’s have of gaining a following in America. And it all hinges on the falcon-wing doors of the Model X crossover, which I have decided is a brilliant car that it is OK to hate.

Elon Musk says that the Model X will be Tesla’s highest-volume vehicle, and if history is any indication of the future (and it usually is) Americans are just waiting for gas prices to go back down so they can buy trucks and SUV’s again. Except gas prices aren’t going down; they’re going up, again, 12-cents in the last three weeks. Despite how you may feel about global warming and climate change, it can be hard to justify a 20 mpg SUV that can cost upwards of $100 per fill-up.

But soccer mom’s still want the perception of safety in their steel cocoons on wheels. There are still people out there buying Cadillacs, Mercedes, Lexus, and BMW crossovers, and many of those vehicles can easily top $60,000 with a few option packages. But can they offer the performance of the Tesla Model X, which Elon Musk claims can hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds? Maybe they can…but do they have the Tesla’s EV credibility? Nope, and if there is one thing hanging around rich folk has taught me, most of them put a lot of money and effort into appearances. Auto ownership is still an important cornerstone of the American Dream, and people perceive things about you based on what you drive. That’s just a fact, whether you like it or not.

The Tesla Model X, with a range about 10% less than the Model S due to a weight that is about 10% more, should top out between 290 and 300 miles with the 85 kWh battery pack. The only other battery pack option is a 60 kWh pack, which should allow for between 230 and 240 miles on a full charge, and all-wheel drive will also be an option for those who contend with awful weather. That kind if range will cover 95% of trips for most people, though the Model X will be limited in that long family trips will either require regular pit stops or a slow-and-steady pace. Tesla is installing a “supercharger highway” in California, which will probably benefit a lot of Tesla Model X buyers…but not all of them.

So it’s strange to me that Tesla would go for a large, seven-passenger crossover with trunks at both the front and rear, even though this really is not a long-range vehicle, even with the 85 kWh battery pack. Then again, somebody who can afford a Model X probably already has at least one other cars, and for most trips, an electric vehicle rarely exceeds 30 miles. That’s only about one-tenth of the 85 kWh battery pack’s capabilities, and most soccer moms can probably work within those limitations.

The cool factor surrounding electric vehicles is working its way through the youth and the wealthy alike. Maybe that is why the “falcon-wing” rear doors feel so much like pandering to the crowd. While Musk claims these days offer more utility than the traditional sliding-door of a minivan, I can see these doors posing a problem in places with low overhead. But again, most people who are likely to be able to afford a Model X also probably have a decent-sized garage.

I don’t like the bloated looks of the Model X either, but I doubt that will deter many buyers. Just look at the SUV’s from a mere five years ago; Escape, Explorer, Expedition, and Excursion were uninspired styling at its zenith, but Ford couldn’t sell enough of them. If gas prices went down, I guarantee that Americans would flock back to trucks and SUV’s without a second thought. The Model X offers the SUV experience, without the cost of gas or guilt.

Alas, Tesla will probably be forced to ditch the falcon-wing doors and rear-view cameras that replace the standard side-view mirrors, which bothers me because who knows how much time and money they spent on these two technologies? Even though this is a prototype, the Model X shares a platform with the Model S, so what you see here is probably very close to a production model.

All told, Tesla is playing to its strengths, which gives me hope that they may just manage to survive, and even thrive, in the years ahead. Alas, Musk says that the announcement of its next model, a lower-priced, higher-volume model, is still 18 to 24 months away from announcement. Not that I am likely to be able to afford that either…but maybe one day.

Until then, I hate Tesla for making a crossover that is obviously aimed at people that aren’t me, and for selling a sedan and roadster that I’d love to own but can’t afford. But I think the Model X will probably do better than even Musk suspects; it’s all the SUV that soccer moms want, without the $4-a-gallon fuel. That sounds like a sales winner to me.

Source: Gas2.0

More on Tesla Model X crossover EV unveiled - VIDEO

More on the Tesla X:

Next Tesla Roadster delayed until after mass-market EV launch

With the demise of the Lotus Elise in the United States, the Tesla Roadster's fate was sealed. With no chassis rolling out of Hethel, Tesla had to end production of the Roadster and shift its focus to the Model S and the just-revealed Model X.

But some kind of Roadster successor has always been in the cards and as Tesla's SEC filings revealed two years ago, the new sports car was supposed to arrive next year. But according to Elon Musk, the release of the next Tesla Roadster could be as far as four years away. And probably longer.

Speaking with Inside Line, Musk said said that Tesla's next project will be its "Gen 3" electric car; a smaller, mass-market EV that will carry a more affordable price tag. Originally, this new model was going to launch in 2016, but Musk revealed that the automaker is now "thinking early 2015."

While the escalated timeline is good for EVs, it's not good for EV enthusiasts. According to Musk, the next Roadster won't be out until after the Gen 3 launches, and that means Tesla won't have another sports car until 2016 at the earliest.



Source: Autoblog Green

More on Tesla Model X crossover EV unveiled; set for late '13 launch

The all-electric Tesla Model X crossover was unveiled at a red-carpet, velvet-rope style event at the Tesla Design Studios in Hawthorne, CA tonight, with company co-founder Elon Musk confirming that the Model X will start production late next year and that full production is expected in 2013.

With luminaries such as California Gov. Jerry Brown in attendance and a post-announcement concert by Foster the People, Musk presented a CUV that, as rumored, has so-called "falcon-wing" doors that are similar to those of the old gull-wing vehicles but bend in the middle, allowing them to be opened in tight spaces while offering better access to the rear and third row of seats. Musk said the Model X, which is expected to be priced similar to the $57,500 Model S sedan set to debut this summer, can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds, or 0.2 seconds quicker than a Porsche 911. The vehicle, which Musk says can seat "seven real adults," actually has front and rear electric motors that instantaneously shift power from one to the other to maximize traction, Musk said. He added that the CUV's turning radius was comparable to that of a Mini Cooper.

Musk, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of about 1,000 people, touted the Model X as having, "more room than a minivan, more style than an SUV and more performance than a sports car." Indeed, with no internal combustion engine, the vehicle has substantial rear cargo space behind the third row of seats as well as a "frunk" in front of the car (which provided the evening's only glitch with a sticky latch. See video of that after the jump). Musk said that the "frunk" has the same storage space as the rear cargo area of an Audi Q7. Musk should know, since he owns one.

Musk also said Telsa will start deliveries of the Model S sedan – upon which the X is based – "no later than July" and will start taking online reservations for the Model X at noon Pacific time Friday. Tesla is expected to produce between 10,000 and 15,000 Model X units a year starting in 2014.



Source: Autoblog Green

Tesla Model X Announcement - From E-Mail

	Model X Premiere Event Join us for a special live webcast 02.09.2012 at 8:00PM PST http://www.teslamotors.com/modelx
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Tesla Talks up the Model S - Promo - VIDEO

Tesla Model X crossover teased, full reveal to be live on Internet

Perhaps the biggest reveal of 2012 for fans of luxury performance all-electric vehicles (or, perhaps, anyone automotively-inclined with a pulse) is set for the 9th of February when Tesla Motors pulls the shroud from its Model X crossover at its new Los Angeles design studio. And now, we have been given a strong hint of what to expect.

The upstart California startup has just sent out a new version of its invitation to customers, and included on the summons is a partially-silhouetted image of something seemingly very sleek and very sexy. Indeed, it must be the Model X. While there is some of the same design language used in the Model S sedan, the teaser suggests a vehicle with a shorter hood, a taller roof and less-pronounced creases in its sheet metal.

While AutoblogGreen while have a presence at the event, you can witness the unveiling in real time from the comfort of your own home. CEO Elon Musk has tweeted the reveal will be shown live on the Tesla Motors website at 8:00 pm (we presume that's Pacific Standard Time). He also adds, "Most cars are pretty blah. This is not."

After seeing the image above and adding the "Quicker than a Porsche 911 and roomier than an Audi Q7" statement we've heard previously to the equation, we're going to give him the benefit of the doubt. For now.



Source: Autoblog Green

Tesla Loses Two Execs Before Model S Debut With Subsequent Stock Declines

Californian automaker Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] suffered a 19.33 percent drop in share price on Friday last week after it announced two of its key engineers had departed the company months before its 2012 Model S was due to go on sale.

Peter Rawlinson, Tesla’s vice president and chief engineer, along with Nick Sampson -- who supervised vehicle and chassis engineering on the luxury sedan -- left the firm earlier this month.

According to Tesla spokesman Ricardo Reyes, Rawlinson -- an English engineer who had previously been chief engineer to Lotus Cars -- had resigned his post to “tend to personal matters in the U.K.”

Reyes also disclosed that Sampson -- a former Jaguar and Lotus Cars engineer -- had “fully transitioned” off the Model S team before leaving the company.

When we spoke with Rawlinson last year, he described engineering the 2012 Model S as “difficulty cubed,” thanks to the sheer number of engineers working on the car and the tight time constraints placed on them to meet production deadlines.

While Tesla may have lost two of its key Model S engineers, CEO Elon Musk remains calm about the automaker’s promises to bring the Model S to market in July this year.

2012 Tesla Model S beta vehicle, Fremont, CA, October 2011

“The uncertainty around Model S is now much diminished, as anyone who has seen the beta vehicles and toured the factory will appreciate,” he said in a statement last week. “There is no question in my mind that we will start delivering vehicles in July, if not sooner.”

Tesla has already taken steps to ensure that replacements are found for both men, hiring former Daimler executive Jerome Guillen to assume Rawlinson’s duties and former Volkswagen executive Eric Bach to “help in the final stretch of bringing Model S into production.”

At the present time, Tesla has not disclosed any more information surrounding the departure of both engineers, but has scheduled a company update call for tomorrow at which it will offer an update on its planned 2012 Model S production schedule as well as “a discussion of recent personnel changes.”

Source: Green Car Reports

Tesla Announces Model S Pricing and Options

We're 10 days away from 2012. Around the office, we're calling it The Year of Model S. In anticipation of what is sure to be the most exciting year in Tesla's history, we're pleased to announce final pricing and options for United States reservation holders. This pricing will be in effect for all current US reservation holders. Due to volatility in currency rates around the world, we are not able to announce pricing outside the United States at this time. We expect to announce pricing about six months prior to the start of deliveries in those areas. There have been a lot of rumors about price increases lately. I'm happy to say that all Model S pricing remains unchanged, including the basic version with the 40 kWh battery at the price we announced in 2009 of $49,900 after federal tax credits. $49,900 includes our game changing 17" Touchscreen, 19" Wheels and a Universal Mobile Connector with three adapters that will allow you to charge at home and on the road. This is an incredible car at an incredible price.

Tesla Releases Full Pricing Details on 2012 Model S, Starts from $49,900 After Tax Credit

Even though first deliveries won't begin until fall of 2012, Tesla has dropped final U.S. pricing and options on its most ambitious project to date, the new 2012 Model S electric sports saloon.

The BMW 5-Series-sized sedan is available for order in two trim levels, basic and Performance.

The basic version is offered with a choice of three battery options with 40 kWh, 60 kWh and 85 kWh, priced at $57,400, $67,400 and $77,400 respectively or $49,900, $59,900 and $69,900 respectively after a $7,500 federal tax credit.

.