Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk revealed that the small California-based electric vehicles manufacturer is currently negotiating a partnership agreement with Mercedes-Benz for the supply of electric powertrains (inclusive of engine and batteries) to the production line of a zero emission car bearing the 3-pointed star badge.

Apparently, it was the German automaker that approached Tesla to propose the deal. Mercedes already owns a 10% stake in Tesla, and the two companies have already worked together in the past on Smart Electric Drive batteries. Musk informed shareholders that a “letter of intent” sent from Daimler AG confirms Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to the agreement. More details on the project may be revealed “around the end of the year”, Musk said.

Via | Bloomberg

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American electric vehicles manufacturer Tesla received “more than 6.500 orders” for its upcoming sedan model called Model S, which will debut in early 2012. Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk stated that the outstanding response means that all the units that will be produced next year have already found an owner, therefore the Model S has to be considered “sol-out” for the whole 2012. The 50,000 dollars price tag surely played a part in this as Tesla’s current Roadster sports car costs aboaut 100,000 dollars. “They’re mostly new buyers - Musk said - as only 600 people who have ordered Roadsters have also bought the Model S.”

The unexpected success of its new sedan also means that Tesla should be able to earn a profit in 2013, a few years earlier than what analysts would have expected. The various configurations of the Model S can come with three different battery packages: the basic one provides the car with a range of 160 miles (260 km), the second 230 miles (370 km) and the third 300 miles (480 km).

Via | Bloomberg

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