US-based electric car manufacturer, Tesla Motors, has geared up for its first push into Europe by appointing Harley-Davidson’s former European managing director, Michael Van der Sande, to lead the charge. Dutch-born, Van der Sande joined Harley in 1996 and has run its European operation from Oxford since early last year. He lives in Maidenhead and will work out of Tesla's London office while racking up frequent flyer miles to the company’s Silicon Valley headquarters. As with most events at the high-profile electric car firm, his arrival at Tesla as senior vice president of global sales, was tinged with a little controversy. In the company's official statement announcing the appointment his predecessor, Darryl Siry, was said to have resigned to "pursue other opportunities".
The appointment of Van der Sander is the latest in a series of personnel changes at Tesla, which recently responded to rumors of cash flow difficulties by announcing that it has raised some $40m in additional funding. But it is also following the Big Three automakers by going cap in hand to Washington for a $400m loan to help fund further expansion and the development of its next generation Model S, an all electric sedan model to be sold alongside its high profile Roadster electric sports car.
That expansion will include Europe and the company began taking orders for its Roadster from the region back in the spring and plans to begin deliveries early next year. The firm though is said to be way behind hitting its US orders and has even laid off assembly workers at Lotus in Norfolk. There are also reports of drive train problems with the Roadster. Tesla also expects to generate half of its sales of the the Model S sedan in Europe. That car is not expected now until 2011, giving Van der Sande plenty of time to build the necessary network of dealerships.
ON TELSA & THE BAILOUT:
Tesla Motors is reported to have joined Detroit’s Big Three in applying for US government aid to secure its future. The Silicon Valley electric car brand is understood to have requested $400 million from the US energy department to fund two projects, the details of which have not been disclosed. It’s the latest setback for PayPal founder Elon Musk’s automotive firm, which recently made nearly half its staff redundant and lost a lawsuit against rival brand Fisker. The request for aid has stirred up controversy in America, where analysts have accused the firm of using the crisis to try and ‘hive off’ funds.
Tesla has very few employees and the one car it produces is sold only in small numbers and is unaffordable to most consumers at approximately $110,000. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are asking for a share of government soft loans totaling $25 billion. The loans are meant to fund future green technology for the three automotive giants
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