Tesla Roadster now legal for sale in the US

Between all the hoopla surrounding "temporary transmissions" and ever-shifting EPA range targets, one critical aspect of the Tesla Roadster's long, strange trip to market has been mostly overlooked: federal safety approval. Yep, no matter how sleek, fast, and quiet the little red (green) machine might be, Uncle Sam still needed to make sure the signals signaled and the bumpers bumped -- but according to a post on the Tesla blog by a VP named Malcom Powell, the Roadster is now fully approved and can legally go on sale. Don't jump for the piggy bank just yet, though -- while Elon Musk will be getting his straight off, everyone else will have to wait until March 17th for the production line to kick into gear. Once that happens, though, Tesla says it'll churn out 40 of the $100,000 cars per week -- so hopefully that waiting list'll get trimmed soonish.

[Via TG Daily]

[Hello Moto @ Jan 24th 2008 6:24PM]

2080 cars a year are not enough to solve the worlds problems.

On a different note, how many cars have been sold so far? Is the waiting list at 200 cars or 20,000?

As many problems as this car has had, it still remains one of my favorite.

[anonymouspimp @ Jan 24th 2008 6:32PM]

I don't think they are planning on solving the worlds problem with this particular car.

I believe their plan is to start with this... then move down to a mid-size vehicle... then eventually mass produce an economy vehicle.

This company is probably doing it the right way. Start in a small market (luxury/sport) and work your way up to the masses. They are a small company, not Ford/Chevy... (who will likely beat them to a mass market all electric vehicle) so they can't just start at the vehicle class with the most demand.

[mr friggles @ Jan 24th 2008 7:02PM]

Telsa Motors

"we just got word from some nobody on engadget"

"yep its confirmed, we won't be able to save the world"

"yep, I know, cancel production"

"yep, I'm reread it right now, he said it"

"Alright good go people now lets start packing up"

[Shiftlock @ Jan 24th 2008 9:32PM]

They're not trying to solve the world's problems, they're trying to turn a profit, and I think they have a better chance of doing it in the electric-vehicle market than anybody else.

[k0llateral @ Jan 24th 2008 10:17PM]

@ mr friggles

ROFL!!!

[melloncollie @ Jan 24th 2008 6:23PM]

I'ma get me one of them!

[LondonConsultant @ Jan 25th 2008 7:33AM]

Someone from a car magazine has uploaded loads of videos of this car accelerating hard from rest almost silently: http://www.youtube.com/djsiry

[kjb434 @ Jan 24th 2008 6:23PM]

Make it in an SUV and I'll buy it.

P.S. also know it down to a reasonable price range. Like $30k-$50k

[Zak @ Jan 24th 2008 6:56PM]

Welcome to Missing the Point Theater.

[JohnTitor @ Jan 24th 2008 8:33PM]

I'm planning on waiting on the Tesla Whitestar

[Joe @ Jan 25th 2008 7:49AM]

I hate you.

[kjb434 @ Jan 25th 2008 10:44AM]

Why not ask for what I'm asking?

Since when does a a business or other entity decide what I'm going to drive.

Why can't the customer tell the business this is what I want?

We seem to do that all the time on here when discuss many other products. A car is no different.

I think the Tesla is breaking lots of new ground here. When they can get cost down and make a more practical vehicle, more people will benefit and buy this technology.

[why not the LS2/LS7? @ Jan 24th 2008 6:29PM]

Oh, my understanding is Tesla sold out their entire 2008 production already, which was states as "160" cars.

How did it suddenly get to be produced 10X faster?

[lordofthedirectrix @ Jan 24th 2008 6:55PM]

"Tesla says it'll churn out 40 of the $100,000 cars per week"

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Jan 24th 2008 6:50PM]

Those are very in every way. too bad I'm too cheap to spend $100k on a car.

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Jan 24th 2008 6:50PM]

Those are very in every way. too bad I'm too cheap to spend $100k on a car.

[ByronGman @ Jan 25th 2008 1:43AM]

Oh! Oh! I know! I know!


The avatar is different in the second one!

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Jan 25th 2008 9:20AM]

Besides forgetting a word in the post, Engadget likes to input my post twice on occasion. I'm only hitting add once. they need to get their message system worked out.

[retro77 @ Jan 24th 2008 6:50PM]

I can't wait....oh...what...$100,000!!...good god! Ok I can wait. Maybe me and 3 other people can go in on one. I still want one!

[SteveMB @ Jan 24th 2008 7:06PM]

Or you can split the cost with 10 people. It'll only be 10 grand a piece, right?

[retro77 @ Jan 24th 2008 7:40PM]

Well I can afford a $25k car...just not $100k...yet...

[Udayan Tripathi @ Jan 24th 2008 6:52PM]

Despite all the negative publicity, I am looking forward to this - even though my only experience will be via Autoblog.

[Reid @ Jan 24th 2008 8:38PM]

I saw one on the freeway thru San Carlos. Looked pretty sweet! I snapped some marginal pictures on my camera phone.

[Ben @ Jan 24th 2008 6:57PM]

Imagine a battery fire in one of these suckers.


I hope the company has good liability insurance.

[Reader @ Jan 24th 2008 7:23PM]

Prius cars don't randomly explode, so it's safe to say that's a non-issue.

I really hope I see one of these on the road soon, love the Tesla.

[greygabe @ Jan 24th 2008 8:48PM]

well, they could have some issues
Prius is NiMh - the Tesla is A LOT of laptop batteries which have had problems of the firey nature
I still want want! I could finally beat my step dad's Corvette Z06!

[kjb434 @ Jan 25th 2008 10:47AM]

And both cars create a toxic waste problems when the batteries MUST be replaced.

Heck, they create a toxic waste problem when they are being made.

[MED @ Jan 24th 2008 7:21PM]

You missed the second L in Malcolm.

[newgalactic @ Jan 24th 2008 8:26PM]

I'd get one of these over a MB Air any day. This seems like one of the first genuinely innovative American cars I've seen in a long time. Electric cars and trucks, save nuclear power, ...is that Hope I see on the horizon?

[newgalactic @ Jan 24th 2008 8:27PM]

*safe nuclear power*

[Reid @ Jan 24th 2008 8:37PM]

I don't think they're price- or feature- competitive with each other, however.

[porschedevotee @ Jan 24th 2008 8:46PM]

Actually, they won't be doing the 40 cars/week right off the bat - they're starting out with just 1 car/week and are planning to ramp up production later in the year. People over the 100 mark on the waitlist are going to be waiting for a while, methinks...

[greygabe @ Jan 24th 2008 8:49PM]

well, they could have some issues
Prius is NiMh - the Tesla is A LOT of laptop batteries which have had problems of the firey nature I still want want! I could finally beat my step dad's Corvette Z06!

[Sauerkraut @ Jan 24th 2008 9:29PM]

Good investment. This car is going to be worth a million in 50 years if this thing really kicks off.

[Darryl @ Jan 24th 2008 9:48PM]

Just be prepared for a battery swap every 10 years. It'll probably be $10,000s each time.

[John Siebert @ Jan 24th 2008 9:56PM]

what's the gas milage on one of these thigns?

j
http://www.frattoys.com

[Michael @ Jan 24th 2008 11:10PM]

Mmm...yeah...gas milage...that's a good one.

[john @ Jan 24th 2008 11:03PM]

Why dangus magee thats a beauty of a car. I would be happy to just have a can of spray paint in that color. http://www.activehybrid.com

[Seth @ Jan 25th 2008 12:19AM]

Yes by all means sign me up for a $100,000 electric car with a 'temporary' transmission, by a brand new car company with no track record or nearby licensed mechanic or parts service, which also just dumped 26 employees and insisted a fellow co-founder take down his blog post letting consumers know about it.

Oh and please make sure it is impossible for me to refuel in less than 2 hours, and reduce the original stated trip range by 20%.

From a risk management standpoint it makes a Prius look erotic.

[Mark @ Jan 25th 2008 1:17AM]

Bring the price down to under 30K (Canadian), and you got yourself a guaranteed buyer..

[charliex @ Jan 25th 2008 1:30AM]

takeout the electric motor, tranny, put in a 2zzge motor, make the chassis and suspension the way it was orginally meant to be, add a supercharger, drop the price and then i'll buy it,


oh wait.....

[LUXURY @ Jan 25th 2008 4:53AM]

This is one of their most gracefully designed models -ever

[LUXURY @ Jan 25th 2008 4:54AM]

This is one of their most gracefully designed models -ever

[Tech^Cellfish @ Jan 25th 2008 7:17AM]

I want one, but will not buy until there is an official dealership in Norway. And I make more money :)

Electric cars here can drive in bux/taxi lanes, get free pass in toll booths, have parking near the entrance of large stores. And this one is actually cheaper than most low end luxury cars.

[David @ Feb 1st 2008 6:54PM]

http://club.yiduting8.cn:101//ahn/z/zzy/8/12.wma