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• Tesla Motors Inc. is an automotive company that specializes in electric cars. The company was founded in July 2003 by two engineers and is based in San Carlos, California. It also has assembly facilities in England and Taiwan.

  On May 19, 2009, Tesla Motors and Daimler announced a partnership, with Daimler taking a 10% ownership in the company. In exchange for the multi-million dollar investment, Daimler will have a seat on the Tesla board and have an on-hand representative in the company.Reuters: Tesla Motors Is Stayin' Alive

• Fast Facts

  1. Founded: Early 2003
  2. CEO: Elon Musk
  3. Headquarters: San Carlos, California
  4. Cars: Tesla Roadster, S Model
  5. Named after scientist Nikola Tesla, who experimented with electricity and invented the radio
  6. First model was the Tesla Roadster, which is 100% electric
  7. Tesla Model S, a sedan, was introduced in 2009 and expected to be available by 2011
  8. Funding for the company originally came from venture capitalists, including PayPal co-founder Elon Musk, who led the initial funding to get the company started
  9. Service Centers in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Menlo Park in New Jersey and Chicago
  10. Employees: 500+

• GE Partnership?

  During an interview for the May 2009 edition of Car and Driver magazine, CEO Elon Musk reported that the company had secured another round of funding, primarily led by GE. After the report was broke by Gawker, GE responded to the claim indicating that the offer for funding had been pulled sometime after the interview with Elon Musk.Gawker: Tesla CEO Says GE's ... (March 30, 2009)

• Stimulus Money for Tesla

  In February of 2009, energy secretary Steven Chu announced the Department of Energy would streamline its process for distributing its funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. The new process would make the entire loan process for green energy companies faster. Tesla has applied for a loan from the government, and this new change in process could help the company secure funding.CNET: Green-tech pros gird for stimulus jolt (March 26, 2009)CNET: Energy Dept. aims to give out stimulus loans by summer (March 26, 2009)

• Tesla Cars

  Its first commercial model was the Tesla Roadster, which can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds. Tesla Motors has worked in cooperation with Lotus Cars, which has provided components to Tesla vehicles.

  On March 26, 2009, the Tesla Model S was unveiled.Engadget: Tesla Model S Shots Unofficially Unveiled (March 26, 2009) The Model S is an electric-powered sedan, which will cost around $50,000 when it is released in 2011. The interior features a touchscreen dashboard, which controls the climate, audio and GPS.DVICE: New Tesla Model S Electric Sedan brings prices closer to Earth (March 26, 2009)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Tesla Model S | Tesla Roadster | Elon Musk | Nikola Tesla | Electric Cars | Electricity | Lotus Cars | BYD Electric Cars

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