The milk float had come a long way
Investors have committed $40million to help troubled Tesla Motors ride out its current financial difficulties. The money will be used to accelerate manufacturing of the Tesla Roadster and to expand the electric powertrain supply business.
‘Forty million is significantly more than we need,’ said Elon Musk, Tesla Chairman, CEO and Product Architect. ‘However, the board, investors and I felt it was important to have significant cash reserves.’
Tesla has now delivered more than 50 Roadsters to customers and says it is currently in regular production at a rate of ten cars per week, rising to thirty cars per week early next year. More than 1,200 people have placed a deposit for the Roadster, on sale now in the United States and Europe.
Meanwhile, one customer in America is clearly happy with his purchase, having posted a 12.7 second quarter-mile at a local drag strip. This means his new Roadster, which is running the latest v1.5 version of the powertrain, is hitting 60mph in around four seconds. The car reached a terminal velocity of 105mph at California's Infineon Raceway.