Kevin Harney

I think of it more this way than what you mention. Just a different symantic of the same idea. I view it as they are reserving the first 1200 (or so) cars for Roadster Owners. Some may take the offer right away others may wait until they have driven the Roadster for a while as a "test" others may opt out because they do not need that type of car or whatever. I don't view it as jumping the line so to speak. Any non-Roadster owner that orders on Day 1 at slot 1 would actually get the number of 1201. and so on ..... But that number might be reduced later as the cracks do not get filled in. So ... Say I deposited right away and since I am not a Roadster Owner I get slot #1201. Later only say 600 of the Roadster Owners opted to get a Model S so my number drops to 601 and I get it sooner. Roadster Owners like you who want the bugs worked out first would have had the option to get a lower number but choose to wait for the bugs to get worked out and thus end up with a higher number than me. Make more sense that way ?!?!?!?!?

vfx

Talking to one of the Tesla guys at CARB last year he said that Lotus told them that it would take a few hundred cars to get the cars perfect.

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The world loves to be deceived.

Iz

With regard to Roadster owners getting first dibs at Model S, I would just say they've earned the entitlement.

The number of Model S produced in a year will also have to get factored into the equation. If TM achieves a 10-20k annual production rate the reservation number issue may not be as significant.

Kevin Harney

I completely agree. I think that the Roadster owners ARE entitled to some special treatment for their support. I think that reserving maybe 10% of the first MY is in fact a small token that SHOULD be offered and in the grand scheme of things will never be noticed by John Q. Public. I am not a Roadster owner and probably never will be but I look forward to being a Model S owner and I have no problem letting previous supporters go first. It is just the fair thing to do ....

TEG

Given the news that the $92K Roadsters reportedly cost $140K to build, perhaps those first Roadster customers should pay extra for the Model S to help Tesla recoup.
(Just kidding...)

Cobos

We do know that VIPs and Roadster customers will be able to see the Model S on the 5th of March 2009. Anyone know when we mere mortals will be able to see it ? I suppose right after 5th of March unless Tesla want to run an ironclad control of cameras, but is there any official date for the public reveal yet ?

Cobos

Kevin Harney

I imagine that if there is not iron clad camera policy that we will be able to see it about 2 hours after it is revealed .... LOL

graham

I am sure the media will pick up the Model S story on March 5th, but the official reveal will be at the Geneva Auto Show. Since that also starts on March 5th, my guess is that the reveal in Southern California and the reveal "in Geneva" will be one and the same. It will be widely publicized.

Since there is only 1 prototype (that we know of) we will probably have to settle for pictures for a while.

Tdave

Moderator note: Copied over from the Washington DC Auto Show 2009 thread.


Two things I learned from the Tesla reps working the show:

1) The Model S intro on March 5 will be delayed. It won't be ready by then.

2) They don't know when production will cut over to the newly designed interior. Early 2009 cars may not get it.

dpeilow

That is disappointing. I'd hoped it would be at Geneva too.

I wonder if the car is not ready, or if they are trying to synchronise the unveiling with an announcement of the factory location / funding?