I can think of very few people that wouldn't be interested in owning a Tesla electric car but unfortunately, I can think of far more than simply can't afford to purchase one. My latter observation could change in the next few years, however, according to a new report from the Los Angeles Times.
The publication claims Tesla is working on a new electric car tentatively known as the Model E that will make its debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Unfortunately, it won't be the 2014 show in early January but rather the 2015 edition. As such, the car would likely go on sale sometime in 2016 or 2017.
Some analysts, like Gartner's Thilo Koslowski, believe the Model E could be Tesla's coming out party; a chance for them to become a household brand rather than just something reserved for the wealthy. Koslowski points out that no car company can survive long term on selling just 20,000 to 30,000 cars each year as Tesla is currently doing with the Model S.
Priced somewhere in the $40,000 range, we are hearing it will pack a 200 mile range on a full charge.
The Model E is still years away but in the interim, Tesla has something else to hold everyone over. The dual-motor, all-wheel drive Model X crossover is expected to retail for anywhere between $60,000 to $100,000 depending on the chosen configuration. Mostanticipate the crossover to launch sometime in the second half of next year.