It took a little over a month to get to 1000, but since it's still about 3 years before full production they've got plenty of time to get those numbers even higher. My number is probably somewhere b/w 200 and 400 on that list. I hope to find out exactly where later this month. Tesla Motors - Press Releases Tesla surpasses 1,000 reservations for Model S Low total cost of ownership drives interest in Tesla’s sedan and sports car May 12, 2009 SAN CARLOS, Calif. – (BUSINESS WIRE) — Tesla Motors surpassed 1,000 reservations for the Model S, an all-electric family sedan that carries up to seven people and travels up to 300 miles per charge. Tesla launched the car March 26, and reservations immediately began streaming in online and at showrooms in California. The anticipated base price of the Model S is $49,900 after a federal tax credit. The $5,000 reservation fee is refundable. But sticker price is only one part of a car’s total cost of ownership. If you account for the much lower cost of electricity vs. gasoline at a likely future cost of more than $5 per gallon, the Model S is equivalent to a gasoline car with a sticker price of about $30,000, such as a Ford Taurus, Honda Accord or even a Toyota Avalon or BMW 3-Series. Those savings are realized immediately if you lease a Model S, so there is no need wait years to earn back the price difference. “The Model S is a better value than much cheaper conventional cars,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Despite the enormous environmental benefits, lower total cost of ownership will soon become the primary motivation for consumers to evolve from gas guzzlers to EVs.” Performance with a Clean Conscience Tesla is the only production automaker selling highway-capable EVs in North America or Europe. With 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the Roadster outperforms almost all sports cars in its class, yet is more than twice as energy efficient as a Toyota Prius and delivers 244 miles per charge – the only car that offers performance with a clean conscience. Tesla has delivered more than 400 Roadsters to customers so far. The base price of the Roadster is $101,500 after a $7,500 federal tax credit. The Roadster has a far lower cost of ownership than comparably priced sports cars -- even after factoring in a battery pack replacement. The lower cost of electricity vs. gasoline, the relative lack of maintenance on an EV, and state and federal tax incentives may result in lifetime savings of at least $26,000 compared with a similarly priced gasoline sports car. The Roadster also liberates owners from detours to the gas station and inconvenient trips to the mechanic for routine oil changes, exhaust system repairs and other internal combustion engine maintenance. “Some Roadster customers are sports car enthusiasts. Some are environmentalists. Some care about energy security. All are discriminating and value conscious consumers,” Musk said. “Now we’re seeing the same attributes in customers who opt for the Model S. People who drive Teslas refuse to compromise on value, performance or efficiency.” About Tesla Motors San Carlos, California-based Tesla Motors designs and manufactures electric vehicles with exceptional design, performance and efficiency, while conforming to all North American and European safety, environmental and durability standards. The Roadster, which has a 0-to-60 mph acceleration of 3.9 seconds, is the only highway-capable production EV for sale in North America and Europe. Tesla expects to begin producing the Model S sedan in late 2011. CONTACT: Rachel Konrad Tesla Motors, Inc. +1 (650) 701-2664 [email protected]
It is a bit disingenuous to quote the base price (after a federal tax credit which may or may not still be in effect in 3 or 4 or 5 years when the car is actually delivered) and right along side it, quote the range of the much more expensive top of the line model with the largest available battery pack. Much more forthcoming would be to quote price and range for the base model, and then price and range of the longest-range model. I do believe it will be a fabulous car. But $50,000 is not going to get the 300-mile range. Nor will it get any of the options many buyers will want.
Yea, I guess it is, but so what? Look at any TV commercial...they show a fancy version with extra features "look what we can do in our car" stuff, then they show in big font the base price (Starting at $xxxxx). Then the unreadable fine print at the bottom says "price as equipt: $xxxxxx). The Tesla is no different. Anyone willing to plop down $5k on a reservation for a car that may never be made can a) afford it, and b) realizes that they're not gonna get a 300 mile range car, loaded, for $50k. It's an attention getter and for that I can't blame them, it's what it's about right now, getting press, getting noticed, and attracting potential buyers.
I'm honestly glad the tesla is doing something. I have a feeling tesla is going to replace one of the current top three domestic automakers in the future. I would by a model S over a BMW or Benz any day. I do wonder how much the larger battery pack will be. Hopefully Tesla can drive down the price of the pack before they release the model s.
I'm sure you're right. Fortunately I cannot take your advice though (to look at a TV commercial) since I don't have a TV. If I was looking for long-term investments, I'd think Tesla was a very good bet. At my age, though, I've got a very short time horizon.
Exactly, there'll be rear facing jump seats in the back...supposedly. I'd rather have cargo space than jump seats, but Elon Musk has 5 kids I think and wanted to make sure the Model S would accomodate all of them.
There were a number of these 'jump seats' in station wagons in the 80s. I don't really count them until I can see them, but 'technically' it is correct.
I wonder if the battery pack will be different than the Roadster. The Roadster's pack is expected to last less than 5 years / 50,000 miles. "Our testing and modeling indicate that a typical Tesla Roadster owner who drives 50,000 miles over five years should have about 70 percent of initial performance levels available. " Source: Tesla Motors - FAQs Industry standard for the end of life is 80% of initial performance. I wonder if Tesla use the price of the replacement battery to calculate the "total cost of ownership". If they simply compare the first 5 years of ownership then it is extremely misleading.
I believe they've given numbers closer to 80% at 7 years for the Tesla. We're expecting 2 different battery types. A style like being used in the roadster for the 160 & 230 mile packs, and a new lithium type for the 300 mile pack (sorry, I don't remember the exact type.)
Do we have any idea as to what options will be available on the S? and how much that will drive the price up. I understand that the first model s's will be 80k+...
Not really. We know about a panoramic sun roof, the 17" haptic touch screen/gian iPhone counsel. I'm sure leather, and carbon fiber trim and stero upgrades and battery upgrades will, at least, be offered. Also extended warranties and battery replacement options will all be there to beef up the price. $80k is probably a fair guess at the out-the-door price for one of the signature series Model S...the ones they're asking a $40k downpayment for.
Now Evan,i have to ask...is that $40k refundable and do you think the Model S will make it to production for the masses?...personally i'd love one....now where did i put that life insurance claim form...on the Missus
The Roadster uses laptop batteries to keep the price down, and a liquid-cooling unit because the batteries are thermally unstable. LiFePO4 batteries were either not yet available, or in their first year of availability during the time the prototypes were being tested and developed. The Model S is scheduled for production in three years, and I would add a year to that. I think there's a good chance they'll move to LiFePO4 by then, or to an even newer battery chemistry. Of course this is speculation. When they take $50,000 deposits for the Roadster, the deposit is refundable until your car goes into production, with your requested options and color. They inform you at that time and you can confirm or cancel your order. Any time before that, you can get a refund. However, you do not get interest on your money for the time they held it. The above is what Tesla told me when I visited their HQ about two years ago. I presume the procedure will be the same for the Model S: A full refund without interest at any time before your car goes into production, and an official notification when the time comes to specify color and options or back out. I visited Tango at about the same time (here in Spokane). They also wanted a $50,000 deposit, but Tango put that money into an escrow account. Tesla does not. Therefore, if Tesla were to go bankrupt, your deposit could be lost. My own opinion is that Tesla is here for the long haul and will build the Model S. Would I give them a $40,000 deposit on a car to be built in 3 or 4 years? No.
Daniel,i guess that's what i was getting at in relation to the deposit,going bankrupt is a real possibility for any company at present, Who is bankrolling Tesla at present other than the people like Evan with their deposits?
Yes, that's why I mentioned the difference between Tango and Tesla. Tango puts your deposit in an escrow account, so it's safe. Tesla uses your money for operations. If Tesla goes bankrupt you may very well lose your deposit. However it is my opinion that Tesla is strong and a good risk, if you are willing to wait, as Evan apparently is. I don't know if Tango ever delivered its second car. George Clooney bought the first one, and I heard there were problems with it. Tesla was founded and bankrolled by Silicon Valley multi-millionaires like Elon Musk and others. They're using people's deposit money, but it's a drop in the bucket compared with what the founders have invested. Buyers put down a $50,000 deposit for a Roadster. Folks are giving them $5,000 early deposits on the Model S, and I guess $40,000 deposits for the special signature edition of the Model S. But it took hundreds of millions to start the company, do the research and testing, including crash-testing and whatnot. These guys are serious. Tesla is not a fly-by-night outfit. The biggest risk I see in reserving a Tesla Model S is that some other company might come out with a lesser but perfectly adequate EV before them, and you could have had your EV sooner. I just didn't want to wait. That's why I bought my Zap Xebra two years ago and I've been driving electric ever since. And it's why I ordered my Porsche EV conversion almost a year ago, on the promise that I'd have it in 2 to 4 months. Instead it took 11 months. But that's still quicker than I'd have gotten a Roadster. Now I'm waiting for the charging cable that the guy forgot to send with the car!
I'm rooting for Tesla (who isn't?). However, all kinds of alarm bells are going off with them taking deposits and promising cars in a few years......without even having the production facilities built.
And being wary is smart. I chose to gamble my $5000 in hopes of getting one of the first great EVs of our time. Elon's made a personal promise to pay back the deposits if the company should fold...though I'm not banking on that.
I had the Tesla Model S order site up the other day and started to fill out the order form, but then I thought, here I am, 75 years old and ordering a car that is at least three years away and maybe more. At that point I decided to think about it some more I think it might be better to opt for a Hymotion set-up if there ever is an installation facility close to here to install and service it. Too bad it takes up the spare tire space.
