Mike Sinclair•24 Apr 2014
NEWS
Tesla recruits Down Under – Model S pricing imminent
Electric car brand Tesla is building its local team, with pricing for break-through Model S sedan expected within two weeksTesla Motors Australia is just days away from formally announcing local pricing and specifications of its break-through Model S sedan. And in preparation for full scale operations it’s on a recruiting drive.
The US-based electric car pioneer has no fewer than 11 job ads running on seek.com.au and told motoring.com.au that there are multiple positions ready to fill behind the vacancies.
Jobs advertised include Delivery Orientation and Delivery Experience Specialist, workshop staff, vehicle detailers and the like. The positions advertised are based at the brand’s south-eastern Sydney premise but motoring.com.au believes the maker is also recruiting for an operation in Melbourne.
Tesla has recently attracted the ire of auto industry insiders and regulators in the USA for its direct-to-buyer sales structure. The brand will also bypass car dealers here when it launches with its first mainstream product, the Model S.
Tesla will announce full local pricing and details of Model S via its website. Sales will also be available via the site. Local vehicle viewing and test drive locations are yet to be formalised. In the USA, Tesla has open ‘boutique’ style facilities in high-end shopping districts.
Tesla Motors Australia’s sales head Stone Strickland told motoring.com.au the brand was well advanced with ADR compliance on the Model S. Australia is among the first right-hand drive markets to see the car. The vehicle is already on sale in Hong Kong and Japan.
Strickland said 60 and 85kw-h variants of the Model S would be available to Australian buyers. At the top of the Model S range the P85 Performance Plus will offer 0-60mph (102km/h) acceleration of 4.2sec and sports sedan handling credentials thanks to upgraded dampers, bushings, stabilizer bars and high-spec Michelin Pilot Sport rubber.
The full electric drivetrain and battery-in-chassis design of the Model S contributes substantially to added passenger room – especially for rear seat occupants. Unlike some overseas markets, however, the Model S will not be offered locally with 5+2 seating.
Model S features big screen full-electronic instrumentation and on-the-move internet capability. The combination of front and rear luggage spaces also offers unrivalled capacity in this class of car.
Pricing and local specification for the new 5 Series-sized luxury liftback-style sedan are expected to be announced within two weeks. Ahead of the website introduction of local pricing, first to receive details will be ‘Signature’ deposit holders.
A measure of the commitment demanded by Tesla from ‘Signature’ customers is the $40,000 deposit required to secure an early example of the brand’s first SUV, the Model X. This vehicle is not tipped to go on sale in Australia until 2016.
A key factor in the timing of the local roll out is Tesla identifying charging infrastructure installers.
Strickland told motoring.com.au, it is the company’s intention to fast track this process for new owners by identifying and ‘accrediting’ specialist electricians to install charging points at the buyers’ expense at their homes and/or offices.
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Written byMike Sinclair
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