NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Electric Tesla coming to NZ

NZ Herald
6 Jul, 2012 05:30 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Former General Motors vice chairman Robert Lutz says the Tesla Model S was created by some of the world's finest designers. Photo / Paul Sakuma

Former General Motors vice chairman Robert Lutz says the Tesla Model S was created by some of the world's finest designers. Photo / Paul Sakuma

Paypal founder and Tesla CEO Elon Musk says his new all-electric Model S sedan "is not the best electric car - it's the best car of any kind".

A handful of New Zealanders must think so, too, because Tesla's Sydney office has had enquiries about the car from this side of the ditch.

"We have in fact received a number of reservations from New Zealand," said Tesla Australia manager Jay McCormack.

He said the NZ deliveries would arrive around the middle of next year and be part of the first consignment of 500 right-hand-drive cars for different markets. He said Tesla has forward orders from around the world for 10,000 Model S sedans.

The first examples to roll off the assembly line are the Signature and Performance models. The entry-level Model S, which is priced from US$57,400 (NZ$71,556) before US government tax credits, will be built next year.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It comes with a 40kWh battery, capable of delivering a range of almost 260km before the need for a recharge and a 0-100km/h time of 6.5 seconds.

Upgrading to the mid-range 60kWh battery boosts range to 370km and the top-spec 85kWh battery provides a 483km range and 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

Signature and Performance variants come with the 85kWh battery as standard. Performance variants get an upgraded 310kW/600Nm electric motor instead of the standard Signature's 270kW/440Nm unit.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

McCormack said the Model S price in New Zealand hadn't been set. "Globally, we want to keep as close to the US price point as possible, allowing for the different exchange rates," he said. "We will ship direct to New Zealand, obviously adding into the price things like freight charges and the 15 per cent GST."

An Australian report said the Model S was sold out there for six months. It said the top-spec Signature Performance is expected to sell for around A$130,000 (NZ$166,185).

The standard Model S could end up being priced close to Australia's $75,375 (NZ$96,353) luxury car tax threshold for fuel-efficient cars,

The first Model S Signature and Performance variants have rolled off the assembly line at Tesla's Freemont, California headquarters.

Discover more

New Zealand

Taking charge of plug-in cars

07 Jul 05:30 PM
New Zealand

Sparking up over Volt in US comes as shock

16 Nov 04:30 PM

"The fit and finish are superior to any premium sedan," said Musk. "We have the most advanced paint shop in the industry. If you drive another premium sedan after driving the Model S, it's going to feel like a jalopy."

Musk and his team say Tesla will change the automotive industry, but admit that they must work within the same cost constraints and use the same supply chain as everyone else in the car business.

Tesla chief engineer Peter Rawlinson earlier said Tesla wanted to put aside any misconceptions about the EV company.

"We wanted to show that the vehicle engineers at Tesla are capable of designing and engineering a world-class car from a clean sheet of paper," he said.

"That means engineered in-house, no carryover component assemblies, doing the entire platform, suspension, and body structure ourselves."

Rawlinson said Tesla used aluminium in the Model S to save weight. "Roughly 97 per cent of the car is aluminium.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Weight saving is at a premium for electric-vehicle range, so we've tried to create some elegant engineering solutions to the design challenges - although, of course, never at the expense of safety.

"We use a few specific elements made of high-strength steel in, for example, the B-pillars (between the front and rear doors).

"The bumper systems are ultra-high-strength boron steel, which is so strong it can't be stamped at room temperature - it has to be heated until it's cherry red before you can form it."

Former General Motors vice-chairman Bob Lutz says that Tesla's first car, the Lotus Elise-based Roadster, served as GM's motivation to develop the Chevrolet Volt electric car.

Lutz spurred the Volt project along because he didn't want GM to fall behind in EV development. He said he didn't back EVs because of fuel efficiency or environmental reasons, but because EVs could be good cars.

"My philosophy always is if you have a desirable product, you can muddle your way past the financial problems," Lutz said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Musk and the team were smart enough to get, without question, some of the world's finest designers on the Model S.

"The car is so beautiful that you look at it and say, 'I don't care what drives it, I just want one.' That's really the secret of this business."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Author Rachel Paris on ‘massive’ writing failure before hit debut novel

12 May 03:40 AM
New ZealandUpdated

'Unsettling time': Police seek info in Northland homicide case

12 May 03:28 AM
New Zealand

'Paris fashion week worthy': Show combines cancer research and catwalk

12 May 03:28 AM

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Author Rachel Paris on ‘massive’ writing failure before hit debut novel

Author Rachel Paris on ‘massive’ writing failure before hit debut novel

12 May 03:40 AM

Success of See How They Fall follows the 'devastation' of a failed writing project.

'Unsettling time': Police seek info in Northland homicide case

'Unsettling time': Police seek info in Northland homicide case

12 May 03:28 AM
'Paris fashion week worthy': Show combines cancer research and catwalk

'Paris fashion week worthy': Show combines cancer research and catwalk

12 May 03:28 AM
Police station axe attack-accused denies charges

Police station axe attack-accused denies charges

12 May 03:22 AM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP