Steps away from the city’s famous Bahnhofstrasse, the high-profile Zurich store will allow prospective customers to test drive the Roadster, the only all-electric car on sale and in production now. Tesla, which has already delivered more than 1,000 cars in at least 25 countries, sells its own vehicles and has forged strategic alliances with Daimler and Toyota to produce zero-emission cars.
Epicenter of Tesla’s fast-growing Swiss community
Tesla has already delivered about 50 Roadsters with lithium ion batteries throughout Switzerland, the company’s largest per-capita market. The Zurich store will serve as the epicenter for Tesla’s fast-growing Swiss community, and it will be the base for more zero-emission Alpine road rallies, owner-appreciation parties and other exclusive events.
“Tesla’s remarkable success in Switzerland makes perfect sense – testimony not only to Swiss consumers’ longstanding focus on innovative technology but also to the Roadster’s all-weather durability,” said Cristiano Carlutti, Vice President of Tesla’s European sales and operations. “We certainly share their passion for both the environment and high-performance sports cars, and we look forward to becoming even closer to our community of customers and fans when we open the new showroom.”
The Roadster accelerates faster than other sports cars in its price class yet has zero tailpipe emissions. It consumes no petroleum and plugs into conventional sockets – at owners’ garages or offices, hotels, parking decks or at a growing number of charging stations throughout Switzerland. It’s the only sports car that can be fully or partially recharged by renewable energy – and several Swiss customers charge on 100 percent solar power from their photovoltaic panels.
Unlike petrol-powered vehicles, the single-speed Roadster does not require oxygen and therefore does not lose efficiency at altitude. Roadster drivers can drive with utmost confidence on Alpine passes, enjoying the car’s legendary torque without lag or downshifting. Regenerative braking allows the Roadster to recover energy on downhill stretches. Sophisticated power management software means the Roadster’s revolutionary traction control is almost instantaneous.
The Roadster qualifies for numerous incentives in Switzerland, a hydroelectricity-dominated country with one of the cleanest grids in Europe. In some cantons, EVs 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.
Tesla is the only automaker producing and selling highway-capable electric vehicles. With a relentless focus on customer service, Tesla sells cars directly to clients, both online and at four showrooms in Europe: Zurich, Munich, Monaco and London. Tesla has eight additional showrooms in North America. Tesla has already delivered more than 1,000 cars in at least 25 countries.
