The trendsetters are lining up for electric cars

Friedrichshafen - Alternative power plants will be the focus of the new sustainable mobility Electric Avenue Expo to be held in conjunction with the Klassikwelt Bodensee classic car show from May 21st to 24th, 2009 on the trade fair grounds in Friedrichshafen. As the world’s first production-ready electric sports car, the Tesla Roadster is currently attracting a lot of attention in the United States. With the addition of Tesla Motors to its ranks of exhibitors, Electric Avenue Expo has garnered one of the leading manufacturers of electric cars worldwide.



According to Craig Davis, Sales and Marketing Director Europe of Tesla Motors, the new Electric Avenue Expo is a "world first” - just like the Tesla Roadster, which will be delivered in Europe this spring. "The timing of the Friedrichshafen event is perfect in that sense. The Electric Avenue Expo is a terrific opportunity for us and other manufacturers to set a trend.” The Tesla Roadster will appear from May 21st to 24th, 2009 on the "Electric Avenue” in conjunction with the Klassikwelt Bodensee classic car show. The Roadster will also be available to interested customers on an invitational basis for exclusive test drives.

Interview with Craig Davis:

Question: Is Tesla benefiting from the current auto sales crisis on account of its power plant concept?

Craig Davis: Yes, I think so. Tesla Motors began delivering the Roadster last summer, and currently has 1,200 reservations on its order books from customers around the world. In the United States, we’ve delivered 170 Roadsters so far, with celebrities like George Clooney, Matt Damon, Leonardo di Caprio and California Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar among new owners. There are European celebrities who’ve also bought the Roadster. Difficult economic times are prompting people to reflect on current circumstances, think about the future, consider alternatives and innovations, and then act. Tesla Motors has been focused on developing electrical technology since 2003. Even in these difficult times, we will continue to devote ourselves to electrical power plant development, and we presume that other automakers will follow us in that endeavor.

Question: What type of person buys a Tesla and why?

Craig Davis: Yes, I think so. Tesla Motors began delivering the Roadster last summer, and currently has 1,200 reservations on its order books from customers around the world. In the United States, we’ve delivered 170 Roadsters so far, with celebrities like George Clooney, Matt Damon, Leonardo di Caprio and California Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar among new owners. There are European celebrities who’ve also bought the Roadster. Difficult economic times are prompting people to reflect on current circumstances, think about the future, consider alternatives and innovations, and then act. Tesla Motors has been focused on developing electrical technology since 2003. Even in these difficult times, we will continue to devote ourselves to electrical power plant development, and we presume that other automakers will follow us in that endeavor.

Question: What type of person buys a Tesla and why?

Craig Davis: The Tesla attracts a wide audience. Not just celebrities and car-collecting enthusiasts, but environmentally conscious people or ‘true greens’ who have the extra money at their disposal and don’t want to be oil-dependent. Tesla is about performance, design and uncompromising environmental consciousness. Finding all of these qualities in a single car is unique, thus far.

Question: Tesla has now entered the sports car market. Why appeal to such a performance-oriented target group? Wouldn’t it be easier to focus on a more ecologically interested clientele?

Craig Davis: All new technology-based products - such as, say, mobile phones, laptops, etc. - start off expensively priced and therefore only affordable to so-called trendsetters or early adopters. This strategy earns Tesla a high media presence. Other automakers are following our path, and starting to think in our direction.

Question: Is Tesla primarily concentrating on the American market or are there plans to serve the European market, as well?

Craig Davis: Tesla began delivering Roadsters in the United States last summer. The European market launch will take place this coming May, and will feature 250 of what we’re calling the European Signature Edition, half of which have already been reserved for purchase.

Question: What’s the range in kilometers of a fully charged Tesla Roadster, and what’s the maximum speed?

Craig Davis: Its maximum speed is 200 km/h. At 120 km/h, it can cover a distance of about 350 km. At an average speed of 100 km/h, the maximum distance is 390 km. Far more attractive though is the car’s ‘fun factor’, its acceleration, its handling in curves and its overall efficiency. The Tesla Roadster delivers a unique driving experience without harming the environment. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. The 270-hp Tesla Roadster Sport does the same in only 3.7 seconds, which is comparable to the Porsche GT3.”


Further information at www.teslamotors.com/eu.