Tesla Starts Delivering Right Hand Drive Model S in U.K. - Analyst Blog

Tesla Motors, Inc. TSLA has started the delivery of the right hand drive (RHD) Model S in U.K. The automaker believes this launch will support rapid expansion of the company in U.K. in the next couple of years.

Tesla's electric vehicle Model S travels 502 kilometres on a single charge. It is equipped with a 17-inch touchscreen and offers an acceleration of 0–100 km/h in 4.4 seconds. Moreover it has an outstanding safety record.

The RHD cars in U.K. feature country-specific software. The vehicles also offer a configuration that suits customers who drive on the left hand side of the road. The automaker has reorganized everything starting from the wipers to the braces in the front trunk.

Tesla has huge expansion plans in U.K. Though at present, the carmaker operates with 1 store and 1 service center in London, it aims to have stores and service centers across the country by the end of 2014.

During the launch of RHD Model S, Tesla also energized the first Supercharger location in U.K. The strategic location of the Supercharger at Crystal site, at London's Royal Victoria Docks, marks the beginning of a planned Supercharger route to Paris and further across Europe. This will facilitate the long-distance travel of the Model S in the continent.

Tesla plans to establish a network of Superchargers across U.K. in the coming 18 months, which will enable Model S drivers to travel for free. Tesla is energizing roughly one Supercharger per weekday. At present, about 125 Supercharger locations are energized worldwide, of which 19 are in Europe.

Tesla currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Some better-ranked stocks worth considering in the same industry are Fox Factory Holding Corp FOXF, Gentherm Incorporated THRM and Tower International, Inc. TOWR. Fox Factory and Gentherm and carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Tower International is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock.