Tesla Roadster Takes Switzerland by Storm

Electric Sports Car Maker Offers Test Drives in St. Moritz This Weekend During Famed Horse Race

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors is offering test drives this weekend in St. Moritz, the world's oldest and most prestigious winter resort.

“The Roadster gives you uncompromised, high-performance driving all year round -- without the hassle of conventional cars.”

Prospective customers and media can test-drive the 2010 Tesla Roadster at the Carlton Hotel (Via J. Badrutt 11, 7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland) Saturday and Sunday, during the last weekend of the exclusive "White Turf" horse race on frozen Lake St. Moritz.

Tesla has delivered about 1,000 Roadsters to customers in 21 countries, including 30 cars in Switzerland. That makes Switzerland one of the company's top markets on a per capita basis, testimony to the Roadster's all-weather durability and its solid performance in the rugged Alps.

The Roadster accelerates faster than a Porsche yet has zero tailpipe emissions and is twice as energy efficient as leading hybrids. It consumes no petroleum and plugs into conventional 220-volt sockets throughout Europe. It can be fully or partially recharged by solar or wind power.

The Roadster is ideal for discerning drivers who refuse to give up sports car performance during winter weather or at high altitude. Thanks to sophisticated software and a patented power management system, the Roadster's revolutionary traction control is almost instantaneous.

Unlike petrol-powered cars, the single-speed Roadster does not require oxygen and therefore does not lose efficiency at altitude. That means Roadster drivers can confidently overtake slower cars on Alpine passes without any lag or downshifting. Additionally, regenerative braking allows the Roadster to recover energy on downhill stretches.

"Unlike conventional competitors, the Roadster is as much fun on a high Alpine road in February as on a sunny weekend in July," said Cristiano Carlutti, Tesla's Vice President for European Sales and Operations. "The Roadster gives you uncompromised, high-performance driving all year round -- without the hassle of conventional cars."

The Roadster qualifies for numerous incentives in Switzerland. In some Swiss cantons, electric vehicles get a 100 percent waiver of the annual road tax. Some cities, including Zermatt, ban internal combustion engine cars from the city center and only allow EVs to drive and park there.

About Tesla Motors

Tesla is the world’s only automaker selling highway-capable electric cars. Tesla sells vehicles online and operates showrooms and galleries in London, Munich, Monaco, California’s Silicon Valley and Los Angeles, Colorado, New York, Seattle, Chicago and South Florida.

The Roadster starts at €84,000, and its fuel costs about 1.5 cents per mile, compared to as much as 25 cents per mile for petrol-powered sports cars. The Roadster does not need regular oil changes or exhaust system work. Roadsters have no spark plugs, pistons, hoses, belts or clutches to replace. Tesla recommends a standard service and diagnostic inspection once a year – and Tesla can perform this service at customers’ homes or offices.

To schedule a test drive in St. Moritz, contact Jochen Rudat, [e-mail], + 41 (0) 78907 0737