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Here's how buying a Tesla Model S works in China

When it comes to selling and delivering the California-made Tesla electric vehicles in China, we know there's a bit of a time difference. And that difference may be more a matter of months than hours as the California-based electric vehicle maker prepares to start sales in the world's most populous country, Forbes says. Not that it makes Tesla any less confident about its prospects there. Tesla's first showroom in China opened in Beijing in early November and a service center popped up about 13 miles away from there. The company is asking for an upfront $2,400 deposit on its Model S sedans and another $19,500 deposit after customization is complete. Foggier, though is the estimated delivery time, which for vehicles ordered this month can range from July to October, depending on who's doing the estimating, according to Forbes. Tesla representatives didn't respond to our request for clarification but you can get more details in Forbes. Still, Tesla executives have said they expect for China to account for about a third of global sales this year and as much as half in 2015, which could mean about 25,000 vehicles purchased in the country. All this despite the fact that Tesla, like other automakers, has upped the price of its cars for China compared to the levels in other countries. Tesla in January set a base price for the 85-kilowatt-hour Model S of more than $120,000 (depending on the exchange rate) in China. The company says that the price could have been higher, but it wanted to set a fair price.

Only Four Tesla Model S Cars Ever Stolen

Tesla owners are some of the most satisfied car owners in America, and now they have one more reason to love their Model S: They basically never get stolen. In the last three years just four of the luxury electric cars have been stolen, MarketWatch reported. Three were reported stolen last year, none in 2012 and only one was stolen in 2011. It's not like they are too rare for thieves to get their hands on. At least 20,000 were sold last year alone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says cars are stolen at an average rate of about 3.56 thefts per 1,000 vehicles produced. The Model S, however, squeaks by with a 0.15 per 1,000 theft rate, making it the least-stolen vehicle in America. The second-lowest theft rate is that of the Hyundai Tucson, with 0.40 thefts per 1,000 vehicles, according to the Highway Data Loss Institute. All that technology makes the Tesla tempting, but ultimately too difficult to steal. The Model S doesn't have any locks to pick, since the car opens and starts only when its corresponding key fob is near. Sure a thief could go to the trouble of hacking the car, but once they had it there isn't much they could do with it. Most cars are stolen and parted out in chop shops, and there simply isn't a market for additional Tesla parts. Related Gallery Tesla Model S Wins Coveted 'Car Of The Year' Awards Green Weird Car News Tesla Safety Electric stolen car

Drive eO Tesla Roadster is going to race up Pikes Peak [w/video]

Last year, Drive eO sent its PP01 electric supercar up Pikes Peak in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb - well, part-way up. Driver Janis Horeliks wasn't injured in the crash that ended his run near the Halfway Picnic Grounds. This year, the Latvian team will return to Colorado race again with a Tesla Roadster chassis in the Electric Modified division on Sunday, June 29. The PP02 is not quite as rowdy as the PP01, with a twin motor system putting about 482 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels compared to last year's car all-wheel-drive setup making about 536 hp. The PP02's liquid-cooled electric motor will get its electrons from a 40-kWh battery pack. The total weight of the car is about 2,337 pounds. Drive eO's return to Pikes Peak isn't just about getting back in the saddle and winning a single race. The group is using the experience to test new components that it intends to eventually put into later electric supercars. These, according to the press release, are "already on the drawing board." As interesting as it will be to see the PP02 Tesla Roadster 360 attempt to tackle the famous hill again, it should be equally interesting to see what Drive eO is up to next. See what happened in last year's race in the video below (it's not in English), or read on for the official press release from Drive eO. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Drive eO Returns to Pikes Peak with Bespoke Tesla Roadster Riga, Latvia - Electric motorsport specialists Drive eO are returning to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 29 to test and develop their latest electric drive train system. The team has packaged it into a Tesla Roadster chassis, making the competitive debut in motorsport for Tesla. Drive eO has dubbed the project PP02 as it builds upon the team's initial attempt at the iconic hill climb competition in 2013 with a prototype supercar eO PP01. The new car features a more modest specification with rear axle powered by 360 kW (peak) twin-motor system and a 40 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The team is aiming to validate the new components ahead of scaling them up for successive electric supercar projects which are already on the drawing board. The 2014 edition of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will see 72 drivers attempting the treacherous 20 km course to the summit at 4300 m.