Electric sports car pioneers open new Michigan tech center and expect four-door WhiteStar on the road in 2009.
Tesla Motors, pioneers in the high-performance electric car market recently announced the opening of its 19,240 square-foot Technical Center in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Tesla specializes in the production of high-performance electric cars, such as the Tesla Roadster shown below.
The facility will house the research and development center of Tesla Motors and be responsible for the creation of future models, beginning with a four-door sports sedan named ?WhiteStar? due out in 2009. As with all Tesla products, the new model will be a lightweight, high-performance electric vehicle for clients seeking a responsible car that maintains a spirited driving experience.
?This tech center will be home to the engineering, quality and supply chain staff working on WhiteStar and other Tesla cars coming down the line,? notes John Thomas, general manager of the Technical Center. ?With our state-of-the-art CAD and CAE design and simulation tools, this center will enable us to bring high-quality products to market quicker than traditional manufacturers.?
The move to Michigan was a strategic one, as the company wanted to capitalize on the existing resources in the area. Automotive companies, facilities and human capital figured into the plan. Thomas claims, ?We felt it was smart to use the existing test tracks, validation equipment, wind tunnels and more, rather than duplicating these costly investments.?
CEO and co-founder Martin Eberhard clarifies their long-term goals, ?Growing Tesla Motors and creating higher-volume models requires more talented automotive engineers with experience in developing, manufacturing and assembling high-volume cars. We can hire the best, most experienced automotive talent here in Michigan.?
Currently, Tesla employs over 140 people distributed throughout offices in California, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and the new location in Michigan. Well over 270 customers have placed orders for the present model, the Tesla Roadster, and should receive shipment in the fourth quarter of 2007.
Source: ?Tesla Motors Opens Michigan Technical Center to Focus on Company?s Future Products?, Tesla Motors,
www.teslamotors.com.
