Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla expects to begin delivering their new electric luxury sedan – the Tesla Model S – in the middle of 2012 and the company has recently announced some production information, including a few drivetrain options and the price of the upcoming Tesla sedan.
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When production of the new Tesla sedan begins ahead of the mid-2012 launch, the first 1,000 units produced will be Model S Signature Series models, meaning that they are the top-of-the-line trimline fitted with the largest battery – allowing 300 miles of emission free driving. The price of these (MSRP) new Tesla Model S Signature Series is set to start around $77,000 with options and other goodies driving that price up more; not to mention any general dealer markup to the initial models.
Once the initial run of the 300-mile Model S Signature Series is sold, Tesla will then begin producing the lower-priced 160-mile and 230-mile trimlines. The 160-mile Tesla Model S carries a starting price of $57,000 and the 230-mile option starts at $67,000 and throughout 2012, the company plans to build 5,000 sedans before ramping up to a full scale production of 30,000 units in 2013. Also, buyers should keep in mind that the Tesla Model S applies to the $7,500 tax credit for buying an electric vehicle, effectively reducing the price in the same fashion as models like the Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt.
The first Tesla Model S sedans to roll off the assembly line will be destined for the US market in the middle of 2012 and the company plans to have models shipped to European buyers by the end of 2012. For those European and Asian buyers who live in regions that use right hand drive vehicles (RHD), Tesla hopes to have RHD Model S Signature Series sedans by the middle of 2013. If Tesla wants to exist as more than a manufacturer of electric drive components for Toyota, getting their vehicles into other markets could prove to be vital – while no market will likely be more important to Tesla’s success than the buyers right here in the USA.
Source: Autoblog
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