Tesla exec says Michigan's ban on direct sales will deter investment
A Tesla Motors executive said today that Michigan's denial of the electric car makers license to sell cars directly to consumers won't help a future bid by the state to attract a Tesla assembly plant.
Diarmuid O'Connell, Tesla vice president of business development, spoke Thursday morning at the World Mobility Leadership Forum at the Westin Metro Airport. He said Tesla has dozens, "if not hundreds of suppliers" in Michigan, including a tool and die operation in Grand Rapids, but that didn't help its effort to get a retail license.
Tesla so far has sold luxury electric cars ranging in price from about $70,000 to $125,000. But by late 2017, cofounder and CEO Elon Musk has promised to launch production of a new Model 3 that will be priced at about $35,000.
About 400,000 people have given Tesla $1,000 deposits for that car. If the company produces that many cars it may need to build a second assembly plant to augment its sole plant in Fremont, Calif.
Read more: http://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2016/09/29/tesla-exec-says-michigans-ban-wont-attract-investment/91265328/
