Tesla Motors and Toyota Motors announced that they have signed an agreement to begin making an electric version of the Toyota RAV4. It is due to go on sale in 2012. Tesla developed a prototype that is being tested and they plan to produce more this year.

“CEO Akio Toyoda of Toyota and Elon Musk of Tesla had announced in May the partnership that includes Toyota buying a $50 million stake in the electric-car company and selling it an assembly plant in Fremont, Calif.

Tesla said July 10 that it will deliver two prototype vehicles to Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, without identifying the models. While Toyota also aims to test an electric Corolla compact sedan, the RAV4 is better suited to the weight of Tesla’s battery pack, a person familiar with the matter said last week.”

PRESS RELEASE: Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation Formalize Agreement to Develop Electric Version of RAV4

PALO ALTO, Calif. & TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TESLA MOTORS, INC. (Tesla) and TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) today announced that the two companies have signed an agreement to initiate the development of an electric version of the RAV4 as announced in May of this year by Elon Musk and Akio Toyoda. With an aim to market the EV in the United States in 2012, prototypes will be made combining the Toyota RAV4 model with a Tesla electric powertrain. Tesla plans to produce and deliver a fleet of prototypes to Toyota for evaluation within this year. The first prototype has already been built and is now undergoing testing.

In May, Tesla and TMC announced their intent to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support. Tesla seeks to learn and benefit from Toyota’s engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise, while Toyota aims to learn from Tesla’s EV technology, daring spirit, quick decision-making, and flexibility.

TMC has, since its foundation in 1937, operated under the philosophy of “contributing to society through the manufacture of automobiles,” and made cars that satisfy its many customers around the world. TMC introduced the first-generation Prius hybrid vehicle in 1997. The company also plans to introduce EVs into the market by 2012.

Tesla’s goal is to produce increasingly affordable electric cars for mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. California-based Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components, and is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production.

Update: Tesla gets inspired by Al & Ed’s and releases their own Tesla Roadster 2.5 –> Tesla

BRABUS, a German tuner, is offering packages for Tesla Roadster changes including modifications to the all-electric powertrain. BRABUS will focus on enhancements and sound affects.

As we move inexorably toward the electrification of cars, companies that have made a business out of tweaking engines for more power will have to make some significant changes to their business model. BRABUS is a company known as the primary third-party alternative to AMG when it comes to enhanced cars from the house of Daimler, and today has announced its first foray into electricity. The German tuner is now offering a package of changes for the very few people who have or will soon own a Tesla Roadster. For the moment at least, changes to the all-electric powertrain are verboten. That means BRABUS has focused on other things like stylistic “enhancements” and a supremely odd “space sound generator” that emits the roar of a V8, race car engine or two futuristic sounds called “Beam” and “Warp”.

A set of LED running lamps mounted in the front air intake look kind of like they were ripped off an Audi. Perhaps BRABUS should have developed a new headlamp cluster that integrates the LEDs like real Audis do. Meanwhile, the underbody neon lighting looks like something from 1989 Miami and the rear wing is a questionable addition, as well. It’s hard to judge the matte white paint finish in the available photos, so we’ll set that aside for now. The only visual change that actually works is the new 18-inch front/ 19-inch rear wheel/tire package with Pirelli P Zero Nero tires. Given the number of Tesla Roadsters that actually exist at the moment, we probably won’t see very many examples of this package on the road, which debuts later this month at the Essen Motor Show in Germany.

Source Autoblog

Given the $109,000 hit the 2008 Tesla Roadster can take on your bank account, Tesla Motors offers a rebate that many are unaware of. The rebate can alleviate some of the burden. According to Tesla’s co-founder and former CEO Martin Eberhard, Tesla does not advertise a rebate from the California Air Resources Board that is available to those purchasing an electric-car.

“Strange that Tesla does not mention this rebate to its customers (at least not to us),” Eberhard said. “We heard about this program from a friend who drives a natural-gas Honda Civic.”

The CARB said rebates of up to $5,000 are available until March 31, 2009 or until funding runs out. $1.8 million were directed toward vehicle incentive rebates to promote the purchase of alternative-fuel vehicles. The rebate applies to cars like the Honda Civic GX, ZAP electric-cars and the Tesla Roadster

The Tesla Roadster qualifies for the highest rebate amount of $5,000.

Source: egmcartech

Tesla Motors of Silicon Valley released a teaser photo of their delayed model S sedan. The delay was caused by the company’s financial and leadership crisis.

The model S was originally slated to go into production in 2010 with a 225 mile range on a single battery charge, all for a estimated price of $60,000. Founder and current CEO, Elon Musk, stated that the sedan would be delayed until the company receives loan guarantees from the US Department of Energy and investors loosen up their terms. With the delay, the model S will face new competitors such as the Chevrolet Volt, Honda Insight, and the redesigned Toyota Prius, all of which will cost significantly less then the Tesla. Musk doesn’t seem too concerned, but potential investors most likely are.

Extensive cost cutting has led the company to close their research and development center in Michigan and layoff a large number of employees. The only good news is that the $100,000 Tesla roadster currently has 1,200 backorders and is now profitable.

Source: worldcarfans

Tesla is planning to move from its current San Carlos, California headquarters to a $250 million San Jose, California facility, construction beginning in 2009. The reason? The Model S, an all-new 4-door 5-passenger zero-emissions luxury sedan powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. Unlike the Tesla Roadster, which is built in partnership with Lotus in the U.K. and based on a stretched Elise platform, the Model S will ride on a platform developed by Tesla.

Tesla says the Model S will get about 240 miles per charge while still offering “exceptional performance.” Numbers being bandied about include 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds. The Model S will have a base price of about $60,000 (versus the Roadster’s $109,000 price tag) when it goes on sale in late 2010. Tesla recently hired Franz von Holzhausen as its chief designer; he was formerly the director of design for Mazda North America. His first project is to put the finishing touches on the Model S.

Source: roadandtrack.com

Tesla announced the production of the new Roadster today setting March 17th as the regular production date. The announcement was made by CEO Ze’ev Drori on his corporate blog. The Roadster will be built through 2008 and they are projected to produce 100 each month.

As reported by Autoblog:

Tesla’s president and CEO, Ze’ev Drori, made the announcement today on his corporate blog that production of the Roadster has officially begun. Tesla originally set a date of March 17th for “regular” production of the Roadster, and the folks in Hethel have met that obligation today. From here, Tesla intends to get started on its retail efforts, with both a Los Angeles location and a Menlo Park facility for sales and service for the 600 roadsters expected to be built over the course of 2008. Tesla is hoping that they’ll be able to produce around 100 Roadsters each month, up from its current level of one to five cars per week. All the models being produced this year have already been spoken for, so any orders that come in will be sold as 2009 models.

Gallery: First Drive: Tesla Roadster

[Source: Tesla]

Originally by Damon Lavrinc from Autoblog on March 17, 2008, 10:56am