Tesla preparing to open showroom and service centre on Gold Coast

Tesla is to open a showroom and service centre on the Gold Coast as sales of its electric cars surge. HERE ARE ALL THE DETAILS

THE Gold Coast is on the road to winning another name – Tesla town.

The giant US company is opening a showroom and service centre in Southport in response to the popularity of its electric cars with Gold Coast motorists.

The city is believed to have hundreds of owners of Teslas, which start at $73,900.

Ironically, its Southport operation will be in premises that were home to another luxury brand – BMW.

END OF AN ERA FOR HOLDEN ON GOLD COAST

Tesla, which does not have dealerships, is leasing 60 per cent of the Nerang St property owned by former BMW dealer Bruce Lynton.

Gold Coast owners seeking Tesla servicing for their vehicles need to travel to Brisbane, where Tesla set up an operation in 2017.

Griffith University Business School professor David Butler. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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The Brisbane centre includes a supercharger station, something likely to be included in the Southport centre.

Tesla, headed by entrepreneur Elon Musk and on the verge of 10,000 sales in Australia, did not respond to requests for comment on the Gold Coast move.

Mr Lynton’s son Beric was instrumental in securing the Tesla commitment, which involves a seven-year lease with the option to extend by up to 10 years.

He said he received a call in January from a former BMW finance executive, now working for Tesla, inquiring about possible Gold Coast premises.

Tesla is leasing 60 per cent of the Nerang St property owned by former BMW dealer Bruce Lynton.

“I found two for him but he said they were too small.

“Then he looked at our BMW property and things have rolled forward, slowed by COVID-19, from there.”

Griffith University Business School professor David Butler, who is on the committee of the national Tesla owners’ club, said the Tesla Gold Coast move was excellent news.

“The number of Tesla owners has grown significantly since the release of the more affordable Model 3 in Australia just over a year ago,” he said.

“It is nice we won’t all need to visit Fortitude Valley in the future and it also will allow more Gold Coasters to try out a Tesla for themselves.”

Griffith Business School professor David Butler with the Model 3 Tesla.

Paradise Waters resident David Baird, a car fanatic who ordered his first Tesla in 2012, said the Tesla move was a timely recognition of the passion many Gold Coast people had for the cars.

Mr Baird, who in March took delivery of his fourth Tesla, said some people who were reticent over making a Tesla buy would be able to step forward with confidence thanks to the ability to get “hometown servicing”.

His initial Tesla, a Model S, cost him $185,000 and he waited three and a half years for delivery.

“I had to put up a $40,000 deposit.

“In hindsight, if I’d put that money into Tesla shares, I’d have $2.6m today.”