When Tesla first jumped into the electric vehicle pool a few years ago, they did so with a cannonball of fury. The Roadster's splash was so incredible that Tesla became the focus of the entire pool every time they walked to the diving board.
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Unfortunately, the electric automaker has failed to gain widespread adoption with any of its vehicles...and finances are beginning to run thin. The answer (at least for the immediate future) for Tesla?
Partnerships.
They've got an incredible EV drivetrain, so why not pimp it out to other established automakers looking to get into the electric vehicle game. That's exactly what the company has done with Toyota...and it looks like that deal may pay off wonderfully for Tesla.
Via a TreeHugger post, the WSJ says:
The news, which came out in an investor presentation [yesterday], boosted Tesla's stock price more than 3%. Tesla has lost $102 million through the first three quarters on revenue of $68 million, and isn't predicting profit until the Model S is released.
Tesla, based in Palo Alto, Calif., said it has received about 3,000 reservations of $5,000 a piece for the car, which the company says will get up to 300 miles of range on a single charge--far above the current capabilities of any electric car out now or due out.
Look out Nissan, the LEAF (and your other four EV's debuting by 2014) may have some serious Tesla-size pills to swallow...and unfortunately they'll be coated with a not-so-easy to swallow Toyota shell.
What do you think about Tesla's partnership with Toyota and the upcoming all-electric RAV4?
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