Tesla Motors Coming To Michigan

Christopher January 15th, 2007 12:54 PM Link

Like a lot of highly publicized — but perhaps not-entirely-rooted in market-based reality — projects, this one’s entertaining, but I wouldn’t place any bets on the likelihood that the company’s plans to, “create 300 jobs and construct a $100-million plant.” Until the market validates its willingness to pay big bucks for a bloated Elise (even with the on-demand HP benefits of an electric motor), I’m skeptical. As an owner of an Elise, I can vouch for the fact that it’s crappy at most everything, save going around a racetrack. At that, however, it’s a thing of beauty. I’m not sure “on demand” power will help it much on the track, and I can’t imagine even the most staunchly pro-green types actually enjoying living with any Elise-based vehicle on a daily basis. My two cents, but I think this car gets more attention pre-production than it will merit once it’s been built and the initial novelty (and pent-up demand) wear thin.

Charlie January 15th, 2007 3:41 PM Link

Christopher appears ignorant of the fact that this new plant would be used to produce a 4-door sedan, codenamed “Whitestar”, and that the Tesla Roadster is merely a stopgap to drum up interest in the company and build public awareness. And at that, it’s done exceedingly well; when my mom knows that a new electric sports car is on the market, it’s a success. And as for your “the market will not support it” silliness, the Roadster’s first production run is sold out and there’s a waiting list for any more they care to make - so clearly there’s a market for “bloated Elises.”

Just a tip - to avoid snarky replies like this, it would help to know what you’re talking about instead of just pitching in your two cents without a clue. No offense.

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Tesla moves forward with Whitestar sedan, opens new R&D center in Michigan » autodub blog January 15th, 2007 4:45 PM Link

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Interesting January 15th, 2007 9:09 PM Link

MICHIGAN?

NEW auto manufacturing?!!

You guys are on crack–especially the governor, who has pulled the wool over your eyes.

Nobody with a brain would ever go to Michigan to manufacture everything.
The UAW would drain the company before the factory was completed.

Then with conjugal visits on the job, it’d drain the workers faster than a Tesla battery at top speed.

Michigan!
Hahaha!

Look for Granholm to blame Bush when more jobs leave the state–and even more incredibly, look for the voters to believer her AGAIN.

Democrats have a good crop of voters.

eggman25 January 16th, 2007 10:02 AM Link

would definitely attach myself to this project in any way possible. wish i had $100k lying around for the coupe, which is beating on the elise and is ten times more significant an automobile.

Russell January 16th, 2007 10:54 AM Link

Arkansas would be nice. We’re getting a Hino plant in Marion, Crittendon County, just across the river from Memphis.

We have two Nucor (NUE) steel plants withing 40 miles or so and lots a good rail access and barge traffic, too.

Grow Detroit January 17th, 2007 12:49 PM Link

[…] There are definitely some very good signs that Michigan will maintain its position as a automotive technology center. Toyota, of course, has begun work on their multi-million dollar research center in Ann Arbor. The recently announced partnership between GM and Rochester Hills based ECD Ovonics will begin developing the Chevy Volt concept. Now there is Tesla Motors, who just received a major tax incentive from the state, and will now be building their $47 million research facility in Oakland County. State concessions will amount to some $600,000, although around a million dollars is still expected for state coffers.Governor Granholm has pledged to lobby hard to get Tesla’s manufacturing facility built in Michigan as well. […]

Hunter January 18th, 2007 5:34 PM Link

The sticker shock on the roadster is obvious…but if you were to drive it for 100k or so miles, it actually ends up being cheaper than an Elise. That is, if you can really get your power as cheap as Tesla thinks you can, and if there really is basically no maintenance. Which seems reasonable…there’s hardly anything under the hood, so to speak.

I’m just dying to see what this sedan platform looks like, particularly regarding the batteries. That’s where the naysayers are making their mistake…the incredible pace of battery development. The roadster runs on battery tech that is just barely good enough…which is perfect timing. Because the developments that are at or just over the horizon now (Li-poly, Chromium, fast-charging, etc.) will be ready in time for their mass-market offering. They’ll be in the enviable position of being able to choose whether to drastically lower costs or drastically increase range. Or both…have the base model with 200mi range for cheap, and pay more for extra capacity. If they manage to stick around for the first year or two, we should see every year’s model improve on last year’s performance dramatically, and at lower cost.

About this story, though, I will say it strikes me as odd…300 jobs seems a bit small for the governor to be spending so much effort…

Radomil Novak January 20th, 2007 2:19 AM Link

I am rather sceptical about the “clean” label of electric cars. One of the major advantages of traditional cars is that they produce their own energy. Electric car, on the other hand, becomes another power dependent consumer product. If we started using electric cars, our power demand would skyrocketed.
Power production is number one air polutant and also one of the resons for our oil and gas dependence.

david moxness January 20th, 2007 6:29 PM Link

most charging will be done during off peak hours (night time) with negligible need if any for increased electric power generation, also as electric power generation becomes increasingly greener the benefits of going electric become even greater, also the more people who are able to utilize solar panels to generate power at home to charge their vehicles will also increase the benifits.

Keep it Green January 22nd, 2007 10:07 AM Link

It’s a good thing that nobody doubts for a moment that pure fuel fossile dependant type vehicles are here to stay. Things are going change,as thing HAVE to change, as things have always changed.

Getting 250 miles out of one charge does intrigue most people.(I got this info off of Tesla’s site.)The less we have to do with foreign oil, I’m all for it… even if it costs the same as it would to fill up our cars, it’s STILL worth it, we don’t need any more grief or complaints that ” we there only for the oil”

peace to you all !

Edward Darbyshire January 26th, 2007 8:16 AM Link

Good luck Tesla! Michigan will be a great location for you to develop your new 4 door sedan. GM and Ford have let a lot of talent go over the past few years with fantastic buy out packages, some have retired before they wanted to and would love to get involved. These engineers have the background to give a new auto company a great head start into making the new Tesla a must have vehicle. Michigan offers a workforce that is committed to a company, not a union. Governor Jennifer Granholm and Automation Alley have already given Tesla name recognition that any company would love to have on a start up. Michigan is hungry and ready to drink the Tesla Kool-Aid!

Oakland January 26th, 2007 8:20 AM Link

If you want a job with Tesla or Avionics, contact Troy Michigan works. http://www.troycareercenter.com

claude January 26th, 2007 5:29 PM Link

The new lithium ion sulphide battery could push the roadster to a 400 mile range.

The price needs to come down a lot and I want to know what air conditioning is going to be installed. I would recommend a solid state peltier circuit unit.

A sea change in automotive design would be a very compact generator for the car. This would be a true long range hybrid. The fuel could be bio diesel or methanol. The bulk of the energy should come from the roof of your home via 30-50% solar cells (yes they exist). The power would run the home and the car for zero cost per month. The initial cost is high but it will come down fast.

Matt January 27th, 2007 7:32 PM Link

The most recent breakthrough news about solar cells is the attainment of 40% and that is only in a laboratory test.

tesla fan February 17th, 2007 12:00 PM Link

Cool car!)

Jim March 1st, 2007 10:42 PM Link

It seems a good cost of the car is the massive amount of Li-ion batteries. In two years will these even keep a charge?

Seems nowhere near being anything but a toy for the rich.