PALO ALTO, Calif., Sep 29, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Tesla Motors kicks off its Go Electric Roadster Tour to introduce the Tesla Roadster - the only highway-capable electric sports car - to new cities across North America. Special test drive events will be offered from Nova Scotia to Salt Lake City to Atlanta, proving that the Roadster truly is a vehicle for all seasons.

"There is demand for the Roadster in so many cities that Tesla has yet to visit," says Vice President of Communications Ricardo Reyes. "We want to continue to show that electric cars are here today, and deliver an extraordinary driving experience no matter where you live."

Accelerating from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, the Roadster consumes no gas and produces no exhaust. Its advanced lithium-ion battery pack carries the car 244 miles on a single charge. And owners can plug it into any conventional 110 or 220-volt outlet to fully recharge the battery in less than four hours.

Compared to other high-performance vehicles, the Tesla Roadster boasts a low cost of ownership. Its lack of an internal combustion engine means less routine maintenance, fewer parts replacements, and absolutely no smog checks -- and Road & Track Magazine just recognized it as having one of the highest resale values in its class.

The Roadster is also the only sports car to qualify for substantial tax incentives worldwide. In the United States, the Roadster qualifies for a federal tax incentive of $7,500 as well as individual state incentives like $5,000 tax credits and sales tax waivers. Owners also benefit from automatic carpool lane access and free public charging in many states.

In addition to drive events, prospective customers can purchase a Roadster online, or through Tesla's network of 14 retail stores worldwide. The Tesla Rangers mobile service team travels to owners' homes to perform annual service and upgrades wherever they are located.

So far, more than 1,300 owners in 30 countries have driven over 7 million electric miles in a Roadster. Interested customers who want to add more to this odometer can check out the Go Electric Tour schedule at http://www.teslamotors.com/events.

About Tesla Motors

Tesla's goal is to produce increasingly affordable electric cars to mainstream buyers - relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Tesla has delivered more than 1,000 Roadsters to customers in North America, Europe and Asia. Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components. It is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production. The Tesla Roadster accelerates faster than most sports cars yet produces no emissions.

SOURCE: Tesla Motors

Tesla Motors Camille Ricketts, 650-681-5064 cricketts@teslamotors.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010