Tesla Motors and Toyota: A Partnership
Tesla Motors first made it’s mark with the development of the Tesla Roadster, a high-performance electric vehicle raved as the next generation of private transportation. The car is sleek and well engineered, but with a price tag of $100,000+, the Roadster isn’t exactly consumer friendly.
Recently, Toyota announced plans to invest $50 million in the electric car manufacturer in exchange for common stock. The deal also includes collaborative work in the design and production of future models. Plans are already underway to manufacture Tesla’s next car, the Model S, at the recently purchased Nummi assembly plant in Fremont, Calif. The plant was previously run, collaboratively, by GM and Toyota and was the production site of the Toyota Corrola and Pontiac Vibe.
The Model S is an electric sedan with a base price currently set at around $50,000, though it is yet to be seen if Tesla Motors can produce and market the car at that price. Needless to say, Tesla’s collaboration with Toyota certainly wont hurt.
