DETROIT ? Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, announced Tuesday in Detroit that Tesla is producing the battery pack and charger for Damiler AG’s Smart EV. The companies, which have been partnering on electric powertrain technology for almost a year and a half, will produce 1,000 vehicles in 2009 and 2010, and Musk said the deal could grow into the “tens of thousands” of Smart EVs after that.
Tesla delivered its first prototype to Daimler a year ago. The final version of Tesla’s battery, which will be built in California, is still under development. The companies did not announce pricing or terms of the deal.
Tesla remains the only production automaker with a highway-capable EV for sale in the United States and Europe. Tesla has delivered more thn 150 all-electric, zero-emission Roadsters, and there are more than 1,000 people on the waiting list, said Tesla Senior Communications Manager Rachel Konrad. The Roadster, which gets an EPA estimated 244 miles per charge and charges fully in as little as 3.5 hours, is sold out through November 2009.
In addition to the Roadster business unit, Tesla has a powertrain sales unit to sell EV powertrains and components to other automakers. The deal with Daimler was not exclusive, and Tesla is actively promoting the powertrain sales unit, Musk said during the North American International Auto Show.
Tesla has been involved with Daimler for more than a year, but neither company would confirm the deal before Tuesday.
Tesla showed off a special version of the car, the Roadster Sport, at the Detroit auto show. It plans to show design sketches of its second car, the Model S, in February, Musk said. It will sell for nearly $60,000, versus $109,000 for the roadster. Both qualify for a federal $7,500 alternative energy tax break.
The price for an electric Smart car has not been disclosed.The gasoline version of the Smart ForTwo starts at less than $12,000. At less than nine feet long, it’s the smallest production car from a mainstream automaker selling cars in America.
The final version of Tesla’s battery, which will be built in California, is still under development. The companies did not announce pricing or terms of the deal.
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