Tesla Motors Surpasses 2007 Model Year Sales Goals

More Than 220 Orders Taken For All-Electric Tesla Roadster In About Four Months

SAN CARLOS, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2006) – Tesla Motors, maker of America's first high performance electric sports car, today announced that it has filled all reservations for the flagship 2007½ model year Tesla Roadster.

Since publicly unveiling the Tesla Roadster in July, Tesla Motors has accepted more than 220 reservations for the car, an average of about two per day. That is further proof that the sleek, stylish, zero-emissions Tesla Roadster resonates with car buyers.

The 2007½ Tesla Roadster, priced at about $100,000, is fully loaded with a premium sound system, GPS navigation, premium leather seats and a carbon fiber hard top. Production of the car is expected to begin in the summer of 2007.

Tesla Motors expects to begin accepting orders for the 2008 model year in November. The company also will showcase the Tesla Roadster at the San Francisco Auto Show, Nov. 18 to Nov. 26, and the Los Angeles Auto Show, Dec. 1 to Dec. 10.

The 100 percent electric-powered Tesla Roadster is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in about four seconds. It boasts the equivalent of 135 mpg and a range of up to 250 miles on a single charge -- a combination previously unseen in a mass-produced electric vehicle*. The car’s extended range is due to its state-of-the-art lithium-ion Energy Storage System.

“We set out to build a car with zero emissions that people would love to drive,” said Tesla Motors Co-founder and CEO Martin Eberhard. “Each of our customers has made the decision to invest in an attractive car that uses no oil and is responsible for far fewer greenhouse gasses than the alternatives. Our early customers are pioneers, helping lay a foundation that will make electric cars possible for everyone – enabling Tesla Motors to develop future models at price points that eventually work for every budget.”

About Tesla Motors

Tesla Motors, a privately held company, was founded in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning to create efficient electric cars for people who love to drive. Elon Musk, co-founder of PayPal and currently CEO and Chief Technology Officer of SpaceX, is chairman of Tesla Motors. Musk has led or co-led three rounds of investment resulting in $60 million in funding. He also is instrumental in corporate and product development at Tesla Motors.

Tesla Motors currently employs more than 120 people, including teams in California, the United Kingdom and Taiwan. The company has recruited employees whose background and experience mirror the vehicle itself, drawing from diverse expertise in the electronics, automotive and software industries.

Tesla Motors creates vehicles that conform to all U.S. safety, environmental and durability standards. The cars include modern safety equipment such as airbags, front crumple zones, side impact protection, and 2½ mph bumpers. Tesla Motors will sell the Tesla Roadster exclusively in the contiguous Unites States after it passes Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

*All performance numbers are preliminary. Tesla Motors is involved in important and time-consuming safety and durability testing for the Tesla Roadster. While Tesla Motors is confident of these numbers, this testing may require design changes that affect the final specifications. MPG is for the EPA highway driving cycle. Conversion from electric consumption to gallons of gasoline equivalent is calculated using the EPA conversion factor documented in the Federal Register: June 12, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 113), Rules and Regulations, Pages 36985-36992.