Apr 12, 2012
Doug_G I think a service center would be a more important consideration, and I suspect you'll see more of those scattered around than the stores. They don't need a high-end, high-rent location.
I'd find a Montreal service location very helpful, since I'm in Ottawa. Wouldn't even need a full charge to get there. Plus Ranger fees would be half as much.
Mind you, an Ottawa location would be even better! :smile:�
Apr 12, 2012
Jeeps17 I agree, a service center would be a minimum, but I would like to see the S and hopefully test drive both versions before I buy...
Guess I could always fly to Toronto once they have some available, but a test drive on your home turf is the best!�
Apr 12, 2012
Doug_G Tesla periodically arranges test drive days in other cities. They brought a Roadster to Ottawa last summer. I'm pretty sure they did Montreal too. You can reserve a test drive slot in advance, show up at the location, and get your test drive.�
Apr 13, 2012
Robert.Boston Some very interesting information that one can glean from the Tesla Motors job search page. Here are some North American locations that load into the drop-down box for "Office Location":
- US-AZ-Scottsdale-Fashion Square-Store
- US-CA-San Carlos
- US-CA-San Diego-Fashion Valley-Store
- US-CA-San Rafael-Service
- US-CA-Santa Monica
- US-CO-Boulder
- US-GA-Atlanta-Store (Store Manager position is posted!)
- US-MA-Boston-Store
- US-MA-Michigan
- US-NY-White Plains-Westchester Ave-Store
- US-OK-Oklahoma-Service
- US-PA-King of Prussia-Store
- US-TN-Tennessee
- US-TX-Dallas-North Park-Store
- Canada-Montreal-Store
- Canada-Toronto-Store
- Canada-Vancouver-Robson St-Store
- Orange County
�
Apr 13, 2012
Jeeps17 Fingers crossed!�
Apr 13, 2012
Rifleman Still no love for Ohio :crying: . It would be great to have a store and service center within battery range of my home.�
Apr 13, 2012
Doug_G So the rumour Jeeps17 reported about a Montreal store appears to more than a rumour. I guess he gets his wish!
We already knew Toronto was coming of course, and Vancouver is pretty obvious.
... did Orange County move to Canada?
(This thread really should have been named "New Tesla Stores and Service Centers?" Despite appearances I didn't really start it...)�
Apr 13, 2012
Robert.Boston "Orange County" is simply listed in the drop-down. The order in the drop-down is very jumbled; I imposed some order on it before posting.�
Apr 13, 2012
Doug_G Just joking!
I must say people on these forums are very intrepid about digging up information.�
Apr 13, 2012
Robert.Boston I'm thinking that they have a pool going at Tesla as to how long some facts are going to take to show up on TMC, and we'd be disappointing someone if we didn't find the Easter egg they've hidden!�
Apr 13, 2012
NigelM Wait till the Georgians see this one....you'll hear the cheering all the way to Boston!�
Apr 13, 2012
ElSupreme I see the Service Manager positon posted. But we knew about it.�
Apr 13, 2012
jerry33 Too bad about the North Park (Dallas) location. I'm glad there will be one here, and reasonably close, but North Park is about the hardest to get to shopping center in the region.�
Apr 14, 2012
mlascano +1 Rifleman. A service center/store in Ohio would bridge the current gap between Chicago - NY nicely.�
Apr 14, 2012
daniel I want one in Spokane. Can't quite make it to Seattle on a charge. And I don't relish the thought of spending several hours recharging on the way, with nothing to do, and no way of knowing if the charger will actually be available when I get there.�
Apr 15, 2012
NigelM Well it wouldn't be "several hours" and you can use the chargepoint or plugshare apps which will show you in real time whether chargers are available. Not ideal but demographics means you don't stand much chance of getting a Tesla store anytime soon.�
Apr 15, 2012
daniel 288 miles from Spokane to Seattle. Roadster at 65 mph: Range 200 miles. If I use my 240v 40a UMC I get about 30 miles per hour of charging. Keeping 20 miles in reserve for detours I'd need to obtain 100 miles somewhere during the trip. That's just over 3 hours of charging.
If I drive 55 and only keep 10 miles in reserve, I'd need to obtain 288-245 = 43 miles, or just over an hour's charging, but I'd be scared to cut it that close.
Someone told me there is one charging station between here and Seattle. That, also, is problematic, since anything could happen even on the day of travel. And I do not have a smartphone, so once I leave home I cannot check unless there's a phone number to call.
If there were a few Tesla HPCs along the way, decreasing the chances of getting snookered on the road, and providing 50 miles, rather than 30, for an hour's charging, I might consider it. Probably not otherwise. And it's still a good 5 hours of driving, each way, plus charging time. Plus an overnight in Seattle, and dealing with Seattle traffic once in the city.
I'd rather pay mileage for the ranger to come here. But a service center here would really be nice. If Tesla wants to go mainstream and compete with Nissan, which has several dealerships in town, they'll need to have service centers in every city this size, especially by the time they're trying to sell a mass-market family car. Otherwise they won't even be an asterisk below Nissan's sales numbers.�
Apr 15, 2012
dsm363 I think GeorgeB said it takes about 3 minutes before someone spots changes and posts here.
I think it would have made more sense for an Austin store before Dallas but hopefully they'll get there too. Dallas needs a store as well of course.�
Apr 16, 2012
daniel I wonder if the wholly-owned-store model, as opposed to a dealership model, might hold them back once they get into higher-production, lower-priced cars. In the dealership model, third-party businesses provide the capital for the repair and distribution network, in return for some of the profit. In the wholly-owned model, Tesla itself must come up with the capital for stores. I wonder if this might result in too few stores, as people may be reluctant to buy a car that cannot be driven to the service center and back in a day. I can take my Prius in for service and the dealership gives me a ride home, and then picks me up later in the day. With the Roadster, I have to pay a lot of money to have a ranger come to my city. I accepted that because I wanted the car so badly. But would a potential Bluestar buyer feel the same?�
Apr 16, 2012
Robert.Boston From a corporate finance perspective, why should a publicly traded firm have more difficulty raising capital to build a dealership than a local businessman? If Tesla is doing well, it will be able to raise debt and equity more efficiently than a small dealer--especially given the novelty of EVs. I can imagine a lot of local banks having serious reservations about lending to support an EV dealer.
The big upside of a dealership model is the attention to local market requirements that a local businessman will have. This advantage, though, can be overcome by giving appropriate autonomy to local store managers. Our Home Depot, for example, stocks parts to repair wood gutters and copper downspouts, which are not uncommon on old New England houses. It got these parts after local homeowners lobbied the manager, who realized there was profit to be made and got Home Depot HQ approval. I'm not sure, though, how much "local content" an auto dealership needs to play to--sponsor the right local charities, etc., but you're going to offer the same product everywhere.
Another benefit of small businesses is the close attention to customer satisfaction. Having your business--your money and livelihood on the line--really focuses attention on keeping customers happy. So far, Tesla seems to have done a good job with this, but it will be critical to Tesla's long-term success to instill this culture of customer service in each store and service center.�
Apr 16, 2012
gg_got_a_tesla Good points all, Robert. But, by hiring the right folks locally and making them stay attuned to local needs, Tesla can pull this off even with their central ownership model. After all, Starbucks has managed to pull this off the world over without any franchising!
I'm not sure if and when Tesla will reach the tipping point but, in my opinion, Tesla can and should stay with their current store model (a la Apple) for the next 4-5 years. I know I'm in Tesla's backyard and don't have much to worry about vis-a-vis stores and service, but, I've never really been thrilled with independent car dealerships (across 4 brands) who don't necessarily project the same image and level of service that the manufacturer intends to.�
Apr 16, 2012
Robert.Boston If my post created any ambiguity, I think Tesla's direct-ownership approach is absolutely the right model. There are at least as many problems with maintaining a common culture and customer experience in a dealership approach. Dealerships arose in a very different time of retailing, along with department stores. Apple doesn't franchise; neither should Tesla.
(btw, Starbucks does franchise, but indirectly, allowing other restaurants to use the Starbucks product and name.)�
Apr 16, 2012
BYT_P1837 Being in Newark you are in their front yard...I like the Apple comparison as well, nothing wrong with emulating a winner, and Tesla can get their in time. Ford has been around for 100 years!
Tesla Motors can take a few extra years to get it all right
and then put out a car that will be out of sight
and hopefully one day the environment will also be bright
before it all blows up like dynamite!
Had a rare moment of creativity there, don't worry, I'm not quitting my day job!�
Apr 16, 2012
daniel Because a local businessman may have a personal relationship with his bank. He may have collateral which makes the loan very low risk for the bank. He may already own and run a car dealership so his only additional capital investment is car-specific diagnostic equipment and technician training.
And because there's a qualitative difference between an established local business asking a local bank for an expansion loan, and a start-up company asking the capital markets for enough money to open a thousand stores nation-wide.
I agree that Tesla's model has all the advantages mentioned. I just don't see how it can lead to the kind of ubiquitous sales and service presence that all the major car brands have. I lived in Fargo when I bought my Prius. Toyota never would have had a dealership in Fargo were it not for a model that allowed independent businesses (owned by people who already lived there) to open dealerships. Someone commented above that I should not expect a service center in Spokane. But without that, they'll never sell a mass-market EV to the people who live here. There's a Nissan dealership about 3 or 4 miles from me, another on the north side of town, and another in a small town not far away. Tesla will not be able to compete with Nissan in the $30K and below price bracket in Spokane without a sales and service center here, and the same goes for every other city that is not targeted for a store.
Maybe this goes in the "Challenges for Tesla" thread, but establishing a national and global distribution and service network is necessary to becoming a mainstream auto maker, and that's a challenge of no small importance.�
Apr 16, 2012
jerry33 That is certainly not the normal modus operandi for Toyota dealer around here. If you want to wait 45 minutes they may rent you a car--if they have one available. It's generally less trouble just to wait for the service to complete.
Hopefully by the time Bluestar is out there will be a lot more Tesla stores so that Ranger visits will be less common and less expensive.�
Apr 16, 2012
Warrenbonz �
Apr 16, 2012
smoothoperator this is unlikely, supposedly Elon Musk does not want the "Tesla Experience" to be diminished by normal car dealerships/service centers.�
Apr 16, 2012
Robert.Boston Frankly, no. The core systems are so far removed from the MB/Toyota lines that the technicians won't have a clue what to do in most circumstances.�
Apr 16, 2012
gg_got_a_tesla And, we've heard someone say that their Prius was being serviced by someone who had no clue how to start the car or some such thing at a Toyota dealership! No, thank you!�
Apr 17, 2012
Warrenbonz Toyota and Mercedes techs will need to be trained to work on their upcoming electric vehicles that utilze Tesla powertrane so I think it is pretty likely that a Mercedes tech trained to service an electric Mercedes with a Tesla powertrane would be technically capable of handling some Tesla vehicle service issues. As far as the Tesla experience goes, if given a choice, I can't imagine people that live far away from a Tesla service facility (ie. Alaska) opting to pay several thousand dollars on top of the normal fee for an annual service versus saving the money and "suffering" through a Mercedes imitation of the Tesla experience�
Apr 17, 2012
daniel Even if I had to take a cab home and back, that's better than having a seven-hour drive there, and another 7-hour drive back after spending the night in a hotel. But the Toyota dealer where I bought my Prius in Fargo, and the one I go to now, both offer a "courtesy car." I.e. a van that takes customers out and back.
Presumably there will be more. I cannot imagine there being the kind of coverage needed to provide convenient service to the whole country.
The "Tesla Experience" is very greatly diminished if service requires a two-day trip with 8 total hours of total driving plus 6 hours of charging on the road if you're lucky enough to find a charger available when you need it. And the "Tesla Experience" will cost more than $30,000 car buyers are willing to spend if a service tech has to drive 4 hours each way, over roads that are hazardous in winter, and stay overnight in a hotel, and perform his work with the tools he can carry in a service van.
Every car brand has stories about incompetent service techs. The people who service my Prius seem extremely knowledgeable, as did the people where I bought it.
I cannot comment on what Elon Musk's intentions are, But I think that once Tesla starts selling cars that compete with the Leaf, local service will be necessary. That means Tesla either finds the investment capital to open a service center in every small and medium size city, and more than one in major cities, or it works with another company to supply service through existing dealerships, or it writes off a significant percentage of the population as potential customers.
As an EV fanatic and early adopter, I was and am willing to accept the expensive and inconvenient service arrangement for my Roadster. I do not believe a Bluestar buyer will feel the same.�
Apr 20, 2012
MarkR It's nice to see new locations for sales and service, but is there any word on the timing for new locations?�
Apr 20, 2012
roblab As a past EV owner (RAV4EV), I keep feeling that all this concern over "service" is a bit overdone. Most folks are used to ICEs, and those need service. This includes hybrids. My EV got serviced twice in 6 years. It was not an emergency requiring driving in inclement weather. Both times there was nothing for the dealer to do (rotate tires, or add an unnecessary amount of refrigerant).
Since Tesla has the ability to upload data from the car, there is even less need to go to a service center. Of course, the inexperienced, non EV driver will continue to sweat over lack of service centers, citing needs for computers or phones or other electrical devices as proof that service will be required. I say, tell me the last time your refrigerator needed service, or your TV. Not common.
OH WELL.�
Apr 20, 2012
gg_got_a_tesla I think one issue is that Tesla seems to be insisting on a scheduled annual service, come what may, and that, if one were not to get that done, they may risk voiding the warranty!�
Apr 20, 2012
neroden Actually, my family has had a lot of refrigerator service calls (icemakers are finicky). TVs, people just throw out and replace when they break.
I think part of the concern is that the Model S doesn't actually have a track record yet (so nobody knows if there's going to be something with recurring problems, such as with certain brands of icemaker), while part of the concern is that cars get beaten on pretty hard -- you'll still have to check the alignment of the Model S intermittently, for instance. And, yes, part is Tesla's intention that people should have an annual service.�
Apr 20, 2012
daniel EXACTLY!!!
The only service my Zap Xebra needed was a few shots of grease in the aftermarket front suspension once a year or so. But with a required annual service, , having the nearest service center a LONG day's drive away (or a good half-day for the ranger in her/his gas-burning service van) becomes an issue.
Again, I accept that for the Roadster. But between Bluestar and Leaf, local service could make the difference.�
Apr 28, 2012
neroden Given the frequency of service, I don't think an enormous number of service centers are needed.... but a lot more are needed than are now planned! People around here are quite willing to drive to Rochester (2 hrs) or Scranton (2 1/2 hrs) once a year, and people who don't like the local car dealers may simply do so, but New York City (5-6 hours) is too much (especially 'cause the city traffic is horrible to drive in). I've noticed that the more rural areas are (Wyoming, for instance) the more willing people are to drive further, but you still need a certain level of coverage; there really needs to be a service center within roughly 2 hours drive of most of the country, though spacing could be larger in exceptionally depopulated areas like Wyoming and Alaska where people are used to car dealers being a long way away.�
Apr 29, 2012
MarkR I would like to think that Model S service needs will be minimal, but the fact that The "locations" list from TMC has five times as many stores as service locations has me questioning if service will be a priority. Phoenix is a looooong way from the nearest service in California.�
Apr 29, 2012
Doug_G I expect they just haven't announced the service locations yet. They are easier to find a suitable location for, and from what I have seen wouldn't take that long to set up, either. So it makes sense to focus on the stores first.�
Apr 29, 2012
Tempus was in the DC store today, and while chatting with one of the Tesla employees there, I heard that they are going to have a service center (and possibly store as well, wasn't clear on this) in the Tyson's Corner, VA area, by the end of the year. For us northern virginia folks, this is great. I was not looking forward to having to go into DC for service. Tysons is MUCH more convenient.
Tempus�
Apr 29, 2012
MarkR You are no doubt correct about the rationale for stores coming first . . . sales will drive the need for service and a service center could be located quickly in many, relatively inexpensive, locations. Just hope that sevice doesn't become a non-priority.�
Apr 29, 2012
gg_got_a_tesla Yes, from my knowledge of the tech-company-rich (and probably soon to be Model S-infested) Reston/Herndon/Tyson's Corner area (worked with an acquired company's employees there for a while and almost choked to death on an Afghan kabob in one of the restaurants there�
Apr 29, 2012
NigelM You guys in the NE are getting our FL Sales Manager who just got promoted to take that region. Will is a great asset, we'll miss him.�
Apr 30, 2012
Robert.Boston Yea! We'll need a strong leader here--Northeast should be a super market for Tesla (high density, high income, short average drives), but it's going to take a strong advocate to achieve the level of sales that California is generating.�
Apr 30, 2012
NigelM Well (density aside) I understand FL is second only to CA in reservations and that's with one store waaaay down the far end of the state. (We're looking forward to a store opening in Tampa which sounds increasingly likely...c'mon George, don't you have family here?! :wink�
May 7, 2012
vfx GB said the amount of service centers would double today's count by the end of the year and he excitedly said they have not even started.
He described four levels of service centers. The top version being bigger than any built now.
He also said he has the advantage of knowing where every single customer is. I guess Nissan had that same info with online Leaf orders too.
This is all guesswork on my part. Level one sounded small like a single car garage? Maybe a storage unit in a town that holds Tesla specialized tools and a selection of parts. Maybe it even stores the Ranger truck. Then when a Ranger flys out to this remote location. He opens the unit and goes to the owner's home or they meet at the site of at a partnership repair bay.
Maybe a single large service center in a major area would handle a lot of surrouding communities. In a major area like LA there will be a Auto mall consisting of 5 to 10 make dealerships every 20 to 40 miles. Tesla may opt for one giant facility in a place like LA to bring Teslas for service. Makes sense for a small maker to not spread thin too early.�
May 8, 2012
daniel I'd really like to see a service center within Roadster distance of me. In town would be best (Spokane is the biggest city within its own Roadster range radius). But I'd be willing to drive a couple of hundred miles if I had to, and stay overnight if they returned the car to me in the morning with a full charge for the return trip.�
May 8, 2012
agileone The strategy to go with the shopping center approach is good to build brand awareness, but not enough to convince me, if the answer to "Where do I get this thing fixed?" is "Just drive 100 miles to the closest service center ". In smaller markets, having a one door service center with the showroom, even if not fully staffed, i.e ranger flies-in, will help drive sales more than nice displays ...�
May 8, 2012
NigelM If Toyota technicians are going to be trained on Tesla powertrains for the RAV4EV.......
Strategic service partnership?�
May 8, 2012
ckessel Yea, I've been beating that drum repeatedly, but given how few Rav4EVs are going to exist I'm not sure that's going to help in the near term.�
May 8, 2012
bonnie Wouldn't that be smart?�
May 8, 2012
smoothoperator Wouldn't that take away from the "Tesla Experience"...all jokes aside I think that it would be brilliant but I am not so sure Elon would want the Tesla's vehicles being directly associated with Toyota's (or any car manufacturers for that matter). Tesla has went to great lengths to separate themselves from conventional car manufacturers. It doesn't help that most Toyota dealers are franchisee run, so if a service deal was ever struck these employees would not be Tesla employees. Tesla would not be able to fully control the service experience.�
May 8, 2012
gg_got_a_tesla Also, given that the RAV4EV is headed for 4 markets all within Calif. where we have tons of access to Tesla already, not sure if a TnT partnership achieves anything...�
May 8, 2012
vfx Unless Tesla "rents" a bay from them.�
May 9, 2012
W.Petefish Rumor has it that TM might be working with some dealerships for service here in Texas. (Just a little something that I heard in passing.)�
May 9, 2012
Robert.Boston Restrictive state laws in the Republic of Texas might be forcing them in that direction, at least for sales. And once a dealer has sold you the car, it makes sense that they'd have the lead on service, too. If Tesla and Toyota are teaming on this, I'd hope that it would be with Lexus dealers, rather than the down-market Toyota dealers. My first guess, though, is that Tesla would be partnering with Daimler (which makes more than a few parts for the Model S).�
May 9, 2012
dadaleus I've been told there are more service centers going in, such as here in San Diego.�
May 9, 2012
ElSupreme I have a feeling that if your RAV4 EV powertrain breaks it is going to a Tesla Service Center, even if you drop it off at Toyota.�
May 9, 2012
jerry33 Toyota technicians are a big reason why I'm going with Tesla. I had a certified Prius technician who didn't know how to start the Prius.�
May 13, 2012
ultrarunner If Tesla is going to great lengths to seperate them from the conventional car manufacturers...read ICE... then why do they want you to have ASE1-8 certifications to be a tech? Four of the 8 are irrelevant as they pertain to ICE vehicles. I think an EV standard needs to be introduced and people with technical backgrounds in the other systems need to be sought out for tech positions. The aircraft industry for instance is in a bit of a slump. They ave technicians trained in steering, hydralics, antilock brake systems, electronics, electrical, onboard computers...I amsure ther are other sources then ASE certified mechanics that can be tapped and utilized for the new evolving EV industry.�
May 13, 2012
MarkR When the Scottsdale (AZ) City Council approved a permit on May 8 for a Tesla store opening, there was a reference in the documentation to the effect that vehicle deliveries would be made either at the customer's home or the local service center - looks like a service center is planned for Phoenix/Scottsdale.�
May 14, 2012
vfx http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120514/RETAIL07/305149993/1422
Much of what GB told us at Fashion Island.
?�
May 15, 2012
MarkR Interesting article on four service center options. Thanks Eric! Sooooooo . . . it looks like Scottsdale might be getting a service center with an espresso bar & cable TV . . . or a guy with a pick-up truck and a lot of tools. Nice. Actually, I think the approach makes a great deal of sense and is extremely innovative. Different areas have varying degrees of customer density so Tesla has a plan for addressing a vast array of consumers.�
May 27, 2012
bsimoes I live in Vermont so this is a big concern for me. When I called the NY store, the fella told me that there were a number of reservations in this area and that there would be service within a 100 miles. I don't know whether he was blowing smoke to sell cars, but I have tried to find info on Tesla's plans for opening stores/service stations. I am very new to blogging, as I've never had a reason to before this beautiful car came along. I have been unable to find 'the plan'. It feels rather 'chicken and egg'. They don't want to build if they haven't sold enough cars, and yet people will hesitate if there is no way to get it serviced. I have lived in Vt. for my entire driving life--moved up from NJ when I was 16. I am now 51. I am not at all comfortable about driving in big cities--yes, in my mind, Boston is a big city. I am hoping that they will come a bit north from there. Time will tell. Has anyone located information about expansion plans?�
May 27, 2012
dsm363 I don't think they've announced it yet. Worst case scenario would be using the Tesla Rangers for service (that would cost a lot more though) but that's something to consider. How far are you away from the closest know Tesla Store? Ranger fee is $1/mile (round trip).�
May 27, 2012
Larry Chanin One thing to consider is that I doubt that Tesla would charge Ranger fees for warranty work. So while not eliminating exposure to Ranger charges, it may at least limit them in the initial years.
Larry�
May 27, 2012
daniel ^ I can confirm that they do not charge mileage or any other fee for warranty work. I had a couple of minor issues and they came out for free. It did take about a month IIRC to schedule the visit. But the required yearly maintenance is not covered, so you pay both for the service and for the mileage. For me it will be about $1,200 altogether. Nobody in the Bluestar price range is ging to be willing to pay $600 for mileage for the required annual routine maintenance.�
May 27, 2012
smoothoperator Its safe to say that Roadsters require more "maintenance" than the next gen of Tesla Vehicles...getting rid of the air cooled PEM will significantly reduce the frequency of maintenance.�
May 27, 2012
W.Petefish They recently did some major warranty work on mine and a week later came back for some minor work. I have been very satisfied with their speediness though. (e-mail on monday, ranger out usually by friday.)�
May 28, 2012
NigelM No Ranger fee for warranty work. Never has been.�
May 29, 2012
bsimoes I live in Middlebury, 250 miles from the White Plains, NY location...which I might add struck me as an odd location, being it is only 30 miles from this store to the other NY store. So, round trip means $500 or $250? I am really beginning to question whether or not this is cheaper to maintain than the Prius I now own. I read somewhere that each annual "checkup" costs $600. I am not wealthy, just very ecologically aware. I'm a teacher and this car will cost me close to two years of salary as it is.�
May 29, 2012
dsm363 The $600 annual service charge was for the Roadster. I don't think they've announced who much it will cost for the Model S (or even if it will be included under basic warranty). The Ranger fee would be the round trip charge so in your case $500. Tesla's third generation car is supposed to be in the $30-40k starting price range but probably won't come out until 2014 or so.�
May 29, 2012
Lloyd Somebody posted in another thread that the Model S annual service would be less I believe....... Looking for post�
May 29, 2012
Robert.Boston I believe that was quasi-retracted; at this point, we know only that the $600/year Roadster fee is an upper bound.
From Middlebury, the Natick MA store will be closer than White Plains, by about 50 miles each way. The drive from Middlebury should be in range of either the 60kWh or 85kWh battery, so you could skip the Ranger fees as long as the car was driveable.�
May 30, 2012
daniel Tesla's business plan was always to target the upscale market first and then move down to the mass market. Depending on your driving needs, you might want to consider a less-expensive electric car, and keep your present car for when you need the longer range. An iMiev or a Leaf would not be nearly as nice a car as a Model S, but at half the cost it gives you all the ecological benefits except for drives between about 85 and 160 miles (assuming you're thinking of the 40 kWh Model S). And then in 2 or 3 years the Bluestar will come out and you might trade up.
As much as I want to encourage everyone to switch from gas to electric, I don't think it's worth spending money you cannot afford. Especially if you have to borrow and pay interest. IMO no car is worth borrowing money for.�
May 30, 2012
dsm363 I agree. Two years salary for a car is a lot. Either save up for a Model S in a few years or wait until the Bluestar comes out.�
May 30, 2012
EdA
The Boston store isn't in Boston proper but in a suburb (Natick) and not far from the highway exit.
You probably won't have to deal with too many "locals" if you don't want. But I live in Natick and
am also from NJ - so you have a friend here. Although, gosh, you're old. :tongue:
/Ed�
May 30, 2012
Iz Welcome. I was at the White Plains store last week. I asked if it was also a service center and learned it is not. The nice person indicated TM is looking to open a service center somewhere between the NYC location and White Plains.
The White Plains location will attract potential customers from Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Bronx & Fairfield counties. I was surprised at the location of the NYC store in 2009 because private garage parking is at a premium and sidewalk charging is not yet entirely feasible.�
Jul 20, 2012
hj-45 Duplicating a post in the New England section, but the service center for Massachusetts is now rumored to go in Watertown, MA; 12 miles from the showroom in Natick.
"in a letter dated July 6 that the company has a lease for property in Watertown that will house the service facility."�
Aug 28, 2012
mlascano Service center in Columbus, OH confirmed.
Job posting for Service Manager on TM's site - Tesla - www.teslamotors.com | High Performance, All Electric Vehicles
�
Aug 28, 2012
mcornwell I mentioned it in a different thread, but probably more appropriate here. According to Tesla's job opening page, their San Diego service center will be on Trade Street, which is in the Mirarmar area.�
Sep 2, 2012
Robert.Boston The new Locations page on teslamotors.com has some new info for the US:
Not sure if the Fremont location is new or not, but I don't recall it being mentioned before.
- Queens Service Center, 49-62 Van Dam Street, Long Island City, NY 11101
- Toronto Service Center, 7175 Tranmere Road, Unit #2, Mississauga, ON L5S 1N4
- Fremont Service Center, 45500 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94538
�
Sep 2, 2012
Doug_G Ahem. Toronto is not in the US.�
Sep 2, 2012
gg_got_a_tesla Robert, the Fremont (mega-)service center is at the factory itself and was mentioned in the Q2 shareholders letter (on page 2):
http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ABEA-4CW8X0/1516034094x0x585609/25c4efcc-7bbe-4452-a4fd-bbedd31c1c94/Q2%202012%20Shareholder%20Letter%20Final.pdf�
Sep 2, 2012
kvietor It isn't? :wink:�
Sep 2, 2012
Robert.Boston Hmm, to get from here (South Bristol, Maine) to Toronto requires that I travel southward. Canada is north of the US. Therefore, you're in the US. QED.
{Sorry, I should have written "North America" in my post}�
Sep 11, 2012
VolkerP New blog post on the service topic online: Transforming Automotive Service | Blog | Tesla Motors
Edit: Why should I prepay 4 year service plan with optional ranger visit for $2,400 when the 4 year plan is $1,900 and each ranger visit is $100? Since that would cost me $2,300 max.
Edit: to be discussed here: Model S service plans�
Sep 14, 2012
Robert.Boston So now we know where the Boston service center is going to be:
457 Pleasant St
Watertown, MA 02472�
Sep 14, 2012
Raffy.Roma Because maybe that in four years you could need ranger visit more than 4 or 5 times I suppose.
P.S. The Model S service plans link does not work�
Sep 14, 2012
NigelM Correct link here: Model-S-Service-Contracts-the-poll-edition(tm)!�
Sep 18, 2012
Robert.Boston I have created a map showing the current and announced service centers. Why, you might ask, given that Tesla has posted a perfectly good one on its site? Because I wanted to draw 100-mile radius circles around the centers. OK, it was a slow morning at the office.�
Sep 18, 2012
EdA Thanks Robert.
Hmmm, no presence in Detroit...�
Sep 18, 2012
Zzzz... Nice! You can open this map in one tab, and Tesla owners map in another browser tab, and see that they placed SC almost perfectly where the owners are... And one could see where they are most likely to expand network next, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Detroit...�
Sep 27, 2012
Brian H Of course, and it will be the last city to have one, when the mayor and leading citizens are snivelling and begging for it. Just because. :tongue:�
Oct 22, 2012
Arnold Panz Saw this sign at the Dania store on Saturday. Looks like new signage specifically for a service center.
They open the Tesla Store here next month on South Beach, and they're going to redo Dania to be a very small sales area I. The front, and all service area in the rest of the store area.�
Oct 23, 2012
BenTesla Question: I read Elon's blog post yesterday and was still kind of wondering why Tesla doesn't use existing Mercedes dealerships to house mechanics? I know that they wouldn't be good as a sales force but having someone on staff that can service our electric cars in a far more convenient place seems like a smart idea as we work toward more Model S's on the road and the Gen. III. IDK if it's be the best scenario but it would save money and hopefully bring down service costs! I know you guys hate traditional dealerships but its just a thought :smile:�
Oct 23, 2012
jerry33 If they have even one dealer or dealer service, then every dealer protection law would come into force. Also it would be hellishly expensive.�
Oct 23, 2012
Jaff Ben, I have a very hard time thinking that a MB dealership's service department could actually bring down service costs...the new MB dealership in Burlington cost around $14,000,000 CAD to build...they have to pay for it somehow...striking an agreement with MB would only increase service costs imo...
�
Oct 23, 2012
mcornwell Our San Diego service center opens tomorrow, the day before the San Diego retail store opens:
San Diego | Tesla Motors�
Oct 24, 2012
markb1 And the web page is now updated with the address:
9260 Trade Place Suite 100
San Diego CA 92126
Relatively near to where I work, so I'm pleased.�
Oct 25, 2012
Robert.Boston Trusting an employee of a competitor to service your vehicles would border on suicidal. Although Daimler is an investor/partner with Tesla, at the grass roots level, you can be sure that the dealership owners and employees would not provide their best to Tesla owners -- I wouldn't put it past some to actively sabotage Teslas to steer customers back to MBs.�
Nov 6, 2012
Lloyd Tesla Cosa Mesa?? Photos
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/11/tesla_motors_costa_mesa_office.php�
Nov 6, 2012
Tommy Yep that's the place, Costa Mesa Service Center, I drove by it a few times already and have seen the transformation from Tesla delivering their cars on U-haul car trailers to dedicated trailers purpose built for their cars. Their fleet of delivery trucks has also expanded, I counted six this past weekend. They had 2 silvers and a red sig outside under a covered area ready for delivery. All Good.�
Nov 7, 2012
Doug_G A couple of posts were moved here. -mod�
Nov 12, 2012
Brian H Gah! Wotta rag! Makes a good case that we're well on our way to Kornbluth's Marching Morons dystopia ...�
Dec 1, 2012
StephRob It looks like the Marin County service center in San Rafael is close to opening. It's at 470 Anderson Drive. Only about three miles from my house - yay! Driving by today, took a photo of my car in front. Hopefully we won't be here much, but it's nice to know it's close!
- - - Updated - - -
Sorry about the upside down photos. Don't know how to delete them! Also, note that there's a charger to the right of the door, though it looks like a roadster charger.
Thanks Brianman - deleted!�
Dec 1, 2012
brianman Managed attachments in Advanced mode editing can help you get rid of the extra attachments, StephRob. FYI.�
Dec 1, 2012
vfx Is that by the Ferrari building?
Or the paper shop?�
Dec 1, 2012
StephRob Yes, exactly. About two doors down from the Ferrari and Maserati service shops. I think the paper place may have closed. Kitty corner from Jackson's hardware.�
Dec 2, 2012
vfx It's been 22 years when I lived about a half mile away and worked for the other George.�
Dec 9, 2012
dbullard Portland OR Service Center
I thought the Portland service center was going to be south of the Washington Square store, but looking at the "Stores and Service Centers" link on Tesla's site now shows the service center at downtown at approximately 5th and Burnside ("Coming Soon").
Since they've got the location of the main store at Washington Square correct, I'm guessing this isn't a generic "Portland" pin...
Here's the map - do you think this is where it's going to be?
�
Dec 9, 2012
tander Maybe since the Wash location is already done it's on the map but since the service is not for sure it still has a generic pin? Don't know how much room they need but it doesn't seem like there is enough for a typical service center at 5th and Burn. But then again there is that firestone just a few blocks aways.�
Dec 10, 2012
SCW-Greg Incorrect info/address...
Lest they changed their mind. I was told on three seperate occasions, two by the staff there, one by a Res Holder/TMC member that the address is: 16420 SW 72nd, Portland 97224 (which is really Tigard). Note, I can't remember if this is the exact address, or one building next... since at the time the employees couldn't say specifically. But I think this is accurate from the other TMC member. It should be open by now.�
Dec 10, 2012
ElSupreme I am pretty sure all of them are generic pins. The Atlanta pin is on top of the Georgia state capitol building.�
Dec 10, 2012
Brian H Maybe it's going there as part of an urban renewal project?�
Dec 11, 2012
pilotSteve Officially not open until March was what I was told. Yes that is the address. Building has no external marking yet but they are delivering and servicing cars there. As of a week ago they did not have upgraded electrical, so only 110V charging at the moment. I imagine this SC will be very nice with after a few months of upgrading and construction.�
Dec 18, 2012
NigelM For those of you who don't usually visit the Florida section, I just posted some pics of the new Tampa Service Center over here.�
Dec 21, 2012
timdorr While they were supposed to come out today and ended up being a no-show, the Atlanta service team is already picked out and the location is planned on opening up in March. This is according to the guy I talked with on Wednesday from the service team and from my DES.�
Dec 21, 2012
napabill Went by there on 11/30 and there was a locksmith working on the doors. He said it looked like it could open any time as the place appeared to be fully outfitted. TM is still saying March.�
Jan 6, 2013
pharma5 Philadelphia PA service open, Edison NJ service coming soon
Dropping a quick note that Philadelphia-PA Service is open according to Tesla's website, and that Edison-NJ is in the works based on Tesla job postings.:biggrin:
Each of these has a post on the Mid-Atlantic forum:
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/forumdisplay.php/98-Mid-Atlantic�
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