Tesla here next year
Kiwis can order Tesla cars from November, retail store and servicing to follow early next year. reports.
Tesla has confirmed that it will launch its electric vehicles and "scalable energy products" in New Zealand next year.
Kiwis will be able to place orders on Tesla’s website from November, with an official Tesla Store and Supercharger service site set to open as early as the second quarter of 2017.
The announcement came form Tesla’s Australian communications office. It said the decision to bring the brand to NZ had been made after "overwhelming demand for Model 3 and enthusiasm from owners who have imported their Teslas into the country".
The site for the Tesla Store is yet to be announced, but the company says it will carry both the Model S sedan and Model X SUV, and will give customers the opportunity to research and reserve the forthcoming Model 3 sedan.
Tesla Powerwall and Powerpack products, currently available to New Zealand customers via authorised installer Vector Energy, will also be available at the new location, allowing local residents to self-consume their solar and store energy during off-peak times to support electricity networks.
By combining sustainable transportation and battery products with renewable energy sources, Tesla owners will be able to conveniently charge and drive with zero emissions.
Tesla says it will begin recruitment this week for NZ staff who are passionate about the future of sustainable energy. Selected candidates will partake in product and test drive training at satellite locations this year.
Model S is the maker’s luxury sedan, available in either single or dual-motor models.
The flagship version, with an electric motor at each axle, can accelerate to 100kmh in 2.7 seconds.
The car also features a number of so-called Autopilot features including the ability to steer within a lane, change lanes with a tap of a turn signal, and manage speed by using active, traffic-aware cruise control.
The Model X SUV is all-wheel drive and provides 542km of range, with seating for seven adults. It’s fast too: accelerating from 0-100kmh in 3.1 seconds.
However, the Model X’s most talked-about feature is gullwing-style Falcon rear door design, which is hinged at the top and rises up to open thanks to a complex arrangement of motors and sensors.
Pricing for both Model S and Model X starts at just over $110,000 in Australia. NZ pricing and specification is yet to be announced.
The Model 3 is the one that most people are waiting for. It represent’s Tesla next big step into an "affordable" mass-production car, built on a next-generation platform and further enhanced battery technology.
Details are still scarce: Tesla founder Elon Musk unveiled a prototype version earlier this year, also announcing that it would be available to order from NZ.