Tesla Model S with Cali manufacturers plates in ATX?

"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
08/23/2013 at 10:49 • Filed to: None

My wife is presently behind a Tesla Model S with California manufacturer plates. She's on Loop 360 in Austin. I'm posting this because...?

Maybe it's interesting. I'd read, maybe in Motor Trend?, that Tesla was going to try a coast to coast run this year. There IS a tesla service location here, but it's nowhere near this part of the city. This is, however, where the moguls like Dell, Rodriguez and Armstrong live, so maybe it's a test drive.

She's trying to get a photo in case someone noteworthy is behind the wheel.

That is all.

DISCUSSION (9)

ttyymmnn > Chairman Kaga
08/23/2013 at 10:53

I have seen three Teslas in Austin this summer. One was at Zilker Park.

ZDMW > Chairman Kaga
08/23/2013 at 10:58

It's weird for me, there is a Tesla dealership/showroom/lot on the way to the grocery store that I like, so I see them all the time. Still look good every time though. When the place first opened up I sat in one of the cars, no test drive though, it was late and all the cars on the lot were just be prepped because they were already bought.

Chairman Kaga > ttyymmnn
08/23/2013 at 11:02

There's one that I seem to always seem to see plugged in at Whole Foods off Wm Cannon.

I just thought the manufacturer plate was interesting, with this one.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Chairman Kaga
08/23/2013 at 11:08

I've seen a black tesla a few times at whole foods on research blvd. And a big-ass car-carrier full of teslas (probably heading to the burnet rd place).

TrackRatMk1 > Chairman Kaga
08/23/2013 at 11:41

Weren't they fighting to set up a showroom in Austin? I thought they had major issues with getting state approval for their store. Could be something to do with a legislative visit.

Chairman Kaga > TrackRatMk1
08/23/2013 at 11:57

I was wondering if that wasn't the case. We have a service center already, which is sort of an unofficial showroom.

Stef Schrader > Chairman Kaga
08/23/2013 at 12:09

There's a bunch of Teslas in town, especially around Westlake.

I know you can sign up for test drives now—I have to wonder if the cars have M plates? There's a storefront sort of close to Neiman's in the Domain now. I should find out.

"Yes, sir. I AM this annoyed with my rental car."

crown victor victoria > TrackRatMk1
08/23/2013 at 12:18

Yeah Texas franchise laws make Tesla's direct to consumer business model next to impossible. They have a showroom in Austin, but you cannot be assisted in a car purchase in any way by the people who work there.

They also just built a Supercharger in San Marcos. Announced on the 14th: http://www.teslamotors.com/forum/forums/t…

And I think Musk was the one who wanted to do a coast-to-coast drive in his car with his family (the whole reason you can buy the +2 seats fro the rear hatch is because he has 5 kids or something, and wanted to be able to drive everybody around). Maybe it was him.

GasolineLollipop > Stef Schrader
08/23/2013 at 12:40

I see them all over town. My count is up to 16. I may be double counting them. One was at Chipotle at Parmer/McNeil.