Tesla Update

While shopping at REI in San Carlos today, I spotted this Tesla Motors shop truck in the parking lot. So I thought this would be a good time for an update on the Tesla electric car.


The bad news at Tesla is a problem with the 2-speed transmission causing production delays (The car really doesn't need a 2-speed gearbox. You can drive it fast in 2nd gear. But to achieve the boasted 0-60mph time of under 4 seconds, Tesla added the extra ratio).


Other bad news is the Whitestar 4-door saloon is dead, and Tesla's Detroit office might be closing.

Tesla's co-founder Martin Eberhard was removed as CEO back in August, and a permanent replacement was finally appointed on December 3rd. His name is Ze'ev Drori. Mr. Drori has twice turned around smaller companies, then secured their sale to larger competitors:
He founded Monolithic Memories which was purchased by AMD, and he was CEO of Clifford Electronics which was later bought up by Allstate Insurance.

Drori plans for Tesla to deliver 50 cars in the first quarter of 2008, and 600 more by the end of 2008.

Good luck Tesla. I want you to succeed.

Picture of Tesla from Gearlog
Thanks Autoblog and Jalopnik
Categories:Cars