Tesla Launches First Italian Store in Europe's Fashion Capital

Tesla Also Hosts Test Drives During World-Famous Sanremo Music Festival This Week

MILAN, February 15, 2011 - Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors (www.teslamotors.com/)
opened its first showroom in Italy with a spectacular gala that attracted
more than 400 VIPs, including world-famous personalities in fashion, sports
and music.

Tesla's 17th worldwide store, at Via Cerva 31 (
maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Via+Cerva+31,Milano,angolo
+Via+Borgogna,20122,Italy&z=16 0 (angolo Via Borgogna) in Milan, is
steps from the Duomo, La Scala Opera House and the iconic Galleria Vittorio
Emanuele. The store, now open for business, (www.teslamotors.com/milan
) serves Tesla owners throughout Italy and offers test drives to all
prospective customers.

"The Milan store captures the imagination and attention of Italy's sports
car aficionados and the many trend setters and early adopters who set the
pace for fashion and design," (
www.fashiongarments.org/2011/01/tesla-roadster-steps-out-for-fashion-w
eek.html) said Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who hosted the star-studded party last
week.

In addition to Italian TV celebrities Nicola Savino, Daniele Bossari and
Filippa Lagerback, a guest of honor was international football sensation
Florent Malouda, one of the newest owners of the zero-emission Tesla
Roadster. Malouda, who plays for Chelsea and the French national team, is
European ambassador for the non-profit Haitian relief organization Yele
Haiti, to which Tesla and Musk personally made charitable contributions.

Under the Italian Sun

In addition to its newest store, Tesla is a central attraction at the
Milan showroom of Belgian fashion designer Dirk Bikkembergs, renowned for his
unique role at the intersection of fashion and sport. Bikkembergs was the
first fashion designer to hold a fashion show in a football stadium, and his
couture displays - including the centerpiece Roadster in the flagship store
– set the agenda for cutting-edge fashion.

Tesla is also participating in events throughout Italy. Tesla will be
hosting prospective customers all week (
www.teslamotors.com/event/san-remo-festival) at the Hotel Aregai
Marina as part of the world-famous Sanremo Music Festival.

The Tesla Roadster does 0-100 kph in 3.7
seconds and gets an average of 340 kms per charge. Owners simply plug
Roadsters into conventional outlets in their homes, offices or garages. Every
single morning they wake to the equivalent of a "full tank," without ever
visiting a dark, messy gas station.

Owners may also refuel at public charging points. Tesla's biggest
corporate customer in Italy is Ancona-based Energy Resources, Italy's leading
renewable energy provider. Energy Resources Green Mobility builds charge
points - including those that run on pure solar energy. Italy aggressively
promotes renewable energy development, (
solveclimatenews.com/news/20100922/solar-energy-surging-italy-outpacin
g-us) ranking second to Germany for solar installations.

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The community of Tesla owners in Italy stretches from Naples to the Lakes
District. Roadster owners do not pay Milan's notorious congestion fees, and
they can park and charge for free at hundreds of charging stations
nationwide.

ABOUT TESLA MOTORS

Tesla's goal is to produce a full range of electric cars, from premium
sports cars to mass market vehicles - relentlessly driving down the cost of
electric vehicles. It is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds
and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production. Palo Alto, Calif.-based
Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components. Tesla has
delivered more than 1,500 Roadsters to customers in North America, Europe and
Asia. The Tesla Roadster accelerates faster than most sports cars yet
produces no emissions. Visit Tesla online at www.teslamotors.com.

Media:

Contact: Roberto Toro, rtoro@teslamotors.com, +44-7841816653.

More photos (www.flickr.com/photos/armo)

Youtube video : (www.youtube.com/watch?v=gosdMh3AhKI)

Sales:

Jean-Marc Tamburrini, jtamburrini@teslamotors.com, +39-345-026-9421

Media: Contact: Roberto Toro, rtoro at teslamotors.com, +44-7841816653. Sales: Jean-Marc Tamburrini, jtamburrini at teslamotors.com, +39-345-026-9421