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Could Tesla build EVs in China as soon as 2017?

A 25-percent import tariff can certainly make an automaker take notice (to wit: Toyota). In Tesla's case, that means getting production capabilities on the ground in China as soon as possible. According to Bloomberg News, that could mean 2017. Or maybe not. Bloomberg, citing comments by Tesla chief Elon Musk made at Beijing's Geekpark Conference earlier this week, said the California-based maker of the Model S electric sedan may start making vehicles in China as soon as 2017 or 2018. Musk also envisions a substantial charging network throughout cities such as Beijing and Shanghai and obviously thinks the current Chinese resistance to plug-in vehicles will pass. The California-based automaker delivered its first nine Model S EVs in China this week. Of course, Musk has a way with hyperbole, and when contacted by AutoblogGreen, a company representative toned down such a timeframe. "We hope that local production in China is in Tesla's future so that we can manufacture our vehicles where they are sold," wrote Tesla spokeswoman Liz Jarvis-Shean in an e-mail to AutoblogGreen. "We aren't likely to produce cars in China within the next three to four years, however, nor are we currently in any serious discussions to do so." By making cars in China, Tesla, which opened a showroom in Beijing late last year, would avoid the 25 percent import tax China enforces on foreign-made vehicles. As it is, Tesla is pricing the 85-kilowatt hour version of the Model S at about $118,000 in China. That's about $47,000 higher than the US base price, but it's actually kind of "aggressive." Musk has said Tesla will sell as many as 5,000 vehicles in China this year, while Tesla executives have said they expect China to account for a third of Tesla's global sales this year and as much as half next year. Tesla sold about 22,300 vehicles in the US last year. Tesla has also started leasing the Model S in Switzerland for roughly $750 a month. Read more details in the press release below. Tesla and Sixt Leasing Announce Strategic Partnership in Switzerland ZURICH, April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Swiss Customers Can Drive Model S for About CHF 660 per month, After Fuel and Tax Savings in Multiple Cantons Leasing Offer Includes Annual Service Performed by Tesla Tesla today announced an expansion of its strategic relationship with Sixt Leasing. Now Model S customers in Switzerland, as well as Germany, can benefit from compelling lease offers from Sixt Leasing.

Tesla investor says selling 500,000 EVs in 2020 is totally doable

Tesla Motors may make good on chief Elon Musk's claim of selling a half-million vehicles a year by the end of the decade, Motley Fool says. Of course, the author of the Foolish report in question owns Tesla shares but, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's check out the logic. Tesla moved almost 22,500 Model S vehicles last year and it was the best-selling plug-in vehicle in the US during the fourth quarter. The company expects to sell about 35,000 this year but the rate of global sales could be double that by the end of the year. From then on out, it's all about economies of scale, with demand mushrooming overseas, costs dropping as a result of the company's slated "gigafactory" and the introduction of the $35,000-ish Model E by 2017. Add it all up, and you can get to 500,000 EVs a year, the Fool says. Late last month, Tesla disclosed details about its gigafactory, saying it will be fed by sun- and wind power, will employ about 6,500 people and will produce those half-million battery packs a year. Between the company and its partners, as much as $5 billion will be invested in the plant, which is slated to be somewhere in the southwestern US (but not in its native California). To put those projected half-million vehicles in perspective, let's look at the unquestioned champion of the green car movement for the past decade, the Toyota Prius and its many Toyota and Lexus gas-electric siblings. It's taken many years to get to this point, but Toyota can now sell about a million hybrids around the world in nine months.

Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla Launches In Australia, Model S makes for a popular limo

A Chicago limousine company that uses the Tesla Model S in its fleet is finding demand overwhelming. E-Motion Chauffeurs and Hires introduced six Model S EVs to its lineup in October, which resulted in the company's website server crashing due to high demand. "We are completely booked and I've been looking for other Tesla owners to try to cover some of our overflows," says E-Motion owner Abdullah Illahi. E-Motion has ordered another six of the all-wheel-drive P85D model, set to arrive in January. Illahi says that he chose the Model S in order to gain a competitive edge, as it is a car customers would find interesting. It also has the benefit of lower operating costs than traditionally fueled vehicles. Read more at Hybrid Cars. The province of Quebec is offering EV incentives, as well as penalties based on engine size. Quebec is offering an $8,000 (about $6,997 US) rebate for EV purchases, plus up to $1,000 ($874) toward the installation of a home charger. The government is also imposing additional registration fees for traditional vehicles based on the size of their engines beginning in 2016 (on top of the ones already in place). This will mean that cars with engines displacing 4.0 to 4.9 liters will be charged an extra $50, 5.0 to 5.9 liters an extra $100, and cars with engines larger than 6.0 liters will cost an added $200 to register. Read more at Montreal Gazette or at Green Car Reports. Battery company Seeo has closed a successful round of investment funding. Samsung Ventures, Khosla Ventures and GSR Ventures all invested in Seeo, making this funding round it largest yet. Seeo will use the money it secured to commercialize its DryLyte lithium polymer batteries. The solid polymer electrolyte in these batteries is especially energy-dense, and or not flammable or volatile. Seeo also claims they are lighter and longer lasting than other lithium batteries. Read more in the press release below. Tesla has officially launched in Australia. The company delivered the first nine units of its Model S EV to customers on Tuesday, December 9, with more to come on Wednesday and beyond. Tesla powered up its first Superchargers at the Star and Darling Hotel at Pyrmont and at the North Sydney Retail and Service Center. Wednesday, Telsa will open its first store and service center in St Leonards, Sydney. By the end of 2015, Tesla will have stores in Sydney and Melbourne, and a Supercharger network connecting Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.