The Tesla Model S saloon
Elon Musk’s electric car business Tesla has revealed plans to expand into Europe, starting with 30 new showrooms and right-hand drive models for the UK and potentially Ireland.
The company announced the plans at the Geneva Motor Show yesterday.
Tesla will also continue rapidly expanding its Supercharger network, allowing Model S drivers to travel long distances across Europe for free.
“By the end of this year, we expect you will be able to travel almost anywhere in Europe using only Superchargers,” Musk said.
There are currently 14 Superchargers based in the Nordic and central regions of Europe.
Room to vroom
In 2013, Tesla delivered 22,477 vehicles to customers worldwide. By the end of 2014, Tesla expects combined sales in Europe and Asia to be almost twice as high as sales in North America.
Part of that projected growth will come from the UK, where right-hand drive versions of the Model S will soon be introduced.
Highly competitive leasing and financing options, similar to a programme the company recently launched in Germany with rental company Sixt, are also expected to drive growth on the continent.
The European launch of Model S has been successful not only in terms of sales, but also for the accolades awarded to the car. In 2013, Model S was named Car of the Year in Sweden and Norway, Most Stylish Car in Switzerland, and it won the Car of the Year Prize of Honor in Denmark.
In recent weeks, rumours surfaced that tech giant Apple was eyeing a potential acquisition of Tesla.
However, Musk poured cold water on the rumours, indicating the companies were more likely to engage in research and manufacturing joint ventures in the area of lithium-ion battery technology.
